Playing card shufflers and related methods

ABSTRACT

A device for forming a random set of playing cards. The device may include a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set of playing cards, and a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/050,102, filed Oct. 9, 2013, pending, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/219,360 filed Aug. 26, 2011, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,556,263, issued Oct. 15, 2013, which, in turn, is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/725,245, filed Mar.16, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,025,294, issued Sep. 27, 2011, which, inturn, is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/623,223,filed Jul. 17, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,565, issued Mar. 16, 2010,which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/261,166, filed Sep. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,818,issued May 6, 2006, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/128,532, filed Apr. 23, 2002, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,651,982, issued Nov. 25, 2003, which, in turn, is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/967,502,filed Sep. 28, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981, issued Nov. 25, 2003,the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated herein in itsentirety by this reference.

The subject matter of this application is related to co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/667,551, filed Mar. 24, 2015, and toco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/748,068, filed Jun. 23,2015, pending.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a shuffling and sorting apparatus forproviding randomly arranged articles and especially to the shuffling ofplaying cards for gaming uses. The invention also relates to a methodand apparatus for providing randomly shuffled deck(s) of cards in arapid and efficient manner and a capability of automatically calibratingthe apparatus for various card sizes, card thicknesses, and for initialsetup and having card reading capability for providing information oncard rank and/or card suit on cards within the shuffler. The inventionalso relates to a device that can verify a set of cards (one or moredecks) in a rapid non-randomizing event.

BACKGROUND

In the gaming industry, certain games require that batches of randomlyshuffled cards be provided to players and sometimes to dealers in livecard games. It is important that the cards are shuffled thoroughly andrandomly to prevent players from having an advantage by knowing theposition of specific cards or groups of cards in the final arrangementof cards delivered in the play of the game. At the same time, it isadvantageous to have the deck(s) shuffled in a very short period of timeso that there is minimal downtime in the play of the game.

Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,139,014 and 6,068,258 (assigned toShuffle Master, Inc.) describe a machine for shuffling multiple decks ofplaying cards in a batch-type process. The device includes a firstvertically extending magazine for holding a stack of unshuffled playingcards, and second and third vertically extending magazines each forholding a stack of cards, the second and third magazines beinghorizontally spaced from and adjacent to the first magazine. A firstcard mover is positioned at the top of the first magazine for movingcards from the top of the stack of cards in the first magazine to thesecond and third magazines to cut the stack of unshuffled playing cardsinto two unshuffled stacks. Second and third card movers are at the topof the second and third magazines, respectively, for randomly movingcards from the top of the stack of cards in the second and thirdmagazines, respectively, back to the first magazine, therebyinterleaving the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffledcards in the first magazine. Elevators are provided in the magazines tobring the cards into contact with the card movers. This shuffler designis currently marketed under the name MD1® shuffler and MD1.1™ shufflerin the United States and abroad.

Sines et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,368 describes a playing card shufflerhaving an unshuffled stack holder that holds an in-feed array of playingcards. One or more ejectors are mounted adjacent the unshuffled stackholder to eject cards from the in-feed array at various randompositions. Multiple ejectors are preferably mounted on a movablecarriage. Extractors are advantageously used to assist in removingplaying cards from the in-feed array. Removal resistors are used toprovide counteracting forces resisting displacement of cards, to therebyprovide more selective ejection of cards from the in-feed array. Theautomated playing card shuffler comprises a frame; an unshuffled stackholder for holding an unshuffled array of playing cards in a stackedconfiguration with adjacent cards in physical contact with each otherand forming an unshuffled stack; a shuffled array receiver for holding ashuffled array of playing cards; at least one ejector for ejectingplaying cards located at different positions within the unshuffledstack; and a drive which is controllable to achieve a plurality ofdifferent relative positions between the unshuffled stack holder and theat least one ejector. This shuffler design is currently marketed underthe name RANDOM EJECTION SHUFFLER™.

Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,154 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc.) describes an apparatus for moving playing cards from a first groupof cards into plural groups, each of the plural groups containing arandom arrangement of cards, the apparatus comprising: a card receiverfor receiving the first group of unshuffled cards; a single stack ofcard receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, thestack generally adjacent to and movable with respect to the first groupof cards; and a drive mechanism that moves the stack by means oftranslation relative to the first group of unshuffled cards; a cardmoving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack; and aprocessing unit that controls the card moving mechanism and the drivemechanism so that a selected quantity of cards is moved into a selectednumber of compartments. This shuffler is currently marketed under thename ACE® shuffler in the United States and abroad.

Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,096 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc.) describes an apparatus for continuously shuffling playing cards,the apparatus comprising: a card receiver for receiving a first group ofcards; a single stack of card receiving compartments generally adjacentto the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, whereinthe compartments translate substantially vertically, and means formoving the stack; a card moving mechanism between the card receiver andthe stack; a processing unit that controls the card moving mechanism andthe means for moving the stack so that cards placed in the card receiverare moved into selected compartments; a second card receiver forreceiving cards from the compartments; and a second card movingmechanism between the compartments and the second card receiver formoving cards from the compartments to the second card receiver. Thisshuffler design is marketed under the name KING® shuffler in the UnitedStates and abroad.

Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,310 describes a card handlingapparatus comprising: a loading station for receiving cards to beshuffled; a chamber to receive a main stack of cards; delivery means fordelivering individual cards from the loading station to the chamber; adispensing station to dispense individual cards for a card game;transfer means for transferring a lowermost card from the main stack tothe dispensing station; and a dispensing sensor for sensing one of thepresence and absence of a card in the dispensing station. The dispensingsensor is coupled to the transfer means to cause a transfer of a card tothe dispensing station when an absence of a card in the dispensingstation is sensed by the dispensing sensor. Individual cards deliveredfrom the loading station are randomly inserted by an insertion meansinto different randomly selected positions in the main stack to obtain arandomly shuffled main stack from which cards are individuallydispensed. The insertion means includes vertically adjustable grippingmeans to separate the main stack into two spaced apart substacks toenable insertion of a card between the substacks by the insertion means.The gripping means is vertically positionable along the edges of themain stack. After gripping, the top portion of the stack is lifted,forming two substacks. At this time, a gap is created between thestacks. This shuffler is marketed under the name QUICKDRAW™ shuffler inthe United States and abroad.

Similarly, Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085 describes anapparatus for shuffling or handling a batch of cards including a chamberin which a main stack of cards is supported, a loading station forholding a secondary stack of cards, and a card separating mechanism forseparating cards at a series of positions along the main stack. Theseparating mechanism allows the introduction of cards from the secondarystack into the main stack at those positions. The separating mechanismgrips cards at the series of positions along the stack and lifts thosecards at and above the separation mechanism to define spaces in the mainstack for introduction of cards from the secondary stack.

Sines et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,372 describes an automated playingcard shuffler, comprising: a frame; an unshuffled stack holder forholding an unshuffled stack of playing cards; a shuffled stack receiverfor holding a shuffled stack of playing cards; at least one ejectorcarriage mounted adjacent to the unshuffled stack holder, the at leastone ejector carriage and the unshuffled stack holder mounted to providerelative movement between the unshuffled stack holder and the at leastone ejector carriage; a plurality of ejectors mounted upon the at leastone ejector carriage adjacent the unshuffled stack holder for ejectingplaying cards from the unshuffled stack, the ejecting occurring atvarious random positions along the unshuffled stack.

Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,248 describes an apparatus forarranging playing cards in a desired order, the apparatus including: ahousing; a sensor to sense playing cards prior to arranging; a feederfor feeding the playing cards sequentially past the sensor; a storageassembly having a plurality of storage locations in which playing cardsmay be arranged in groups in a desired order, wherein the storageassembly is adapted for movement in at least two directions duringshuffling; a selectively programmable computer coupled to the sensor andto the storage assembly to assemble in the storage assembly groups ofplaying cards in a desired order; a delivery mechanism for selectivelydelivering playing cards located in selected storage locations of thestorage assembly; and a collector for collecting arranged groups ofplaying cards. The storage assembly in one example of the invention is acarousel containing a plurality of card storage compartments. The devicedescribes card value reading capability and irregular (e.g., missing orextra) card indication.

Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981, describes a device for forminga random set of playing cards including a top surface and a bottomsurface, and a card receiving area for receiving an initial set ofplaying cards. A randomizing system is provided for randomizing theinitial set of playing cards. A collection surface is located in a cardcollection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collectionsurface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the topsurface of the device. An elevator is provided for raising thecollection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevatedat least to the top surface of the device. A system for picking upsegments of stacks and inserting cards into a gap created by lifting thestack is described.

McCrea, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,334, describes a secure game tablesystem for monitoring each hand in a progressive live card game. Theprogressive live card game has at least one deck with a predeterminednumber of cards, the secure game table system having players at aplurality of player positions and a dealer at a dealer position. Thesecure game table system comprises: a shoe for holding each card from atleast one deck before being dealt by the dealer in the hand, the shoehaving a detector for reading at least the value and the suit of eachcard, the detector issuing a signal corresponding at least to the valueand suit for each card. A card-mixing system may be combined orassociated with the card-reading shoe. A progressive bet sensor islocated near each of the plurality of player positions for sensing thepresence of a progressive bet. When the progressive bet is sensed, theprogressive bet sensor issues a signal corresponding to the presence ofthe progressive bet. A card sensor located near each player position andthe dealer position issues a signal when a card in the hand is receivedat the card sensor. A game control has a memory and is receptive ofprogressive bet signals from the progressive bet sensor at each playerposition for storing in memory which player positions placed aprogressive bet. The game control is receptive of value and suit signalsfrom the detector in the shoe for storing in memory at least the valueand suit of each card dealt from the shoe in the hand. The game controlis receptive of card-received signals from card sensors at each playerposition and the dealer position for correlating in memory each carddealt from the shoe in game sequence to each card received at a playerposition having a progressive bet sensed. The specification indicatesthat FIG. 16 is an illustration setting forth the addition of a singlecard reader to the automatic shuffler of U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,145 toVerschoor. In FIGS. 16 and 17 is set forth another embodiment of thesecure shuffler of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,334, based upon the shufflerillustrated in FIGS. 12-16 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,145. The shuffler maybe mounted on a base in which is contained a camera with a lens orlenses and the camera may be embedded in a base of the shuffler.

Block et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,044, describes a top of a card tablewith a card dispensing hole therethrough and an arcuate edge covered bya transparent dome-shaped cover. A dealer position is centrally locatedon the tabletop. Multiple player stations are evenly spaced along thearcuate edge. A rotatable card placement assembly includes an extendablearm that is connected to a card carrier that is operable to carry acard. In response to signals from a computer, the rotation of theassembly and the extension of the arm cause the card carrier to carrythe card from the card dispensing hole to either the dealer position orany of the player positions. The card carries a barcode identificationthereon. A barcode reader of the card carrier provides a signalrepresentation of the identification of the card to the computer.

Stardust et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,908, describes an automated methodand apparatus for sequencing and/or inspecting decks of playing cards.The method and apparatus utilize pattern recognition technology or otherimage comparison technology to compare one or more images of a card withmemory containing known images of a complete deck of playing cards toidentify each card as it passes through the apparatus. Once the card isidentified, it is temporarily stored in a location corresponding to oridentified according to its position in a properly sequenced deck ofplaying cards. Once a full set of cards has been stored, the cards arereleased in proper sequence to a completed deck hopper. The method andapparatus also include an operator interface capable of displaying amagnified version of potential defects or problem areas contained on acard which may be then viewed by the operator on a monitor or screen andeither accepted or rejected via operator input. The device is alsocapable of providing an overall wear rating for each deck of playingcards.

Many other patents provide for card reading capability in differentphysical manners, at different locations, and in different types ofapparatus, from card reading shoes, to card reading racks, to tablesecurity control systems, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,959(Pfeiffer et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,848 (Soltys et al., assigned toMindPlay LLC), U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,404 (Sines et al., automated system),U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,447 (Lofink et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,069 (Sineset al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,546 (Meissner et al.), U.S. Pat. No.6,117,012 (McCrea Jr.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,044 (Block et al.), U.S.Pat. No. 6,250,632 (Albrecht), U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,908 (Stardust etal.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,039 (Miller), U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,816(Garczynski et al., assigned to Peripheral Dynamics), U.S. Pat. No.5,722,893 (Hill et al., assigned to Smart Shoes, Inc.), U.S. Pat. No.5,772,505 (Garczynski et al., assigned to Peripheral Dynamics), U.S.Pat. No. 6,039,650 (Hill, assigned to Smart Shoes, Inc.), U.S. Pat. No.6,126,166 (Lorson et al., assigned to Advanced Casino Technologies),U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,769 (Order, unassigned), and WO 00/51076 (Purton,assigned to Dolphin Advanced Technologies Pty. Ltd.).

Although these and other structures are available for the manufacture ofplaying card shuffling apparatus, new improvements and new designs aredesirable. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a batch-styleshuffler that is faster, provides random shuffling, is more compact thancurrently available shuffler designs, and is capable of reading the rankand/or suit of each card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for forming a set of playing cards in a randomized order isdescribed. The device includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and acard receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards. Thedevice is also capable of reading, recording, positioning and/orcomparing information related to card rank, card suit, and specifiedcard combinations. A randomizing system is provided for randomizing theinitial set of playing cards. A collection surface is located in a cardcollection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collectionsurface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the topsurface of the device. An elevator is provided for raising thecollection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevatedat least to the top surface of the device. An automatic system isprovided in the device for accurately calibrating the vertical positionof the collection surface and identifying specific card level positionson stacks of cards placed onto the collection surface. Sensors toidentify at least one card level position and support surface positionsare used to calibrate the performance of card pickup grippers, platformpositions, and card positions on the platform. A calibration routine isperformed by the device, and the automated calibration routine ensures ahigh level of performance of the device and reduces or eliminates theneed for initial and periodic manual calibration and for technicalmaintenance on the device. A camera is provided within the device forreading the values (e.g., suit and rank) of cards, the camera readingvalues after cards are introduced into the device, before they arecollected into a randomized set, and before they are removed. The devicemay also have an alternative mode, wherein cards are rapidly moved andread, but not shuffled, to verify complete sets of cards.

A device for forming a random set of playing cards is described. Thedevice includes a top surface and a bottom surface of the device and areceiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards. Arandomizing system is provided for randomizing the initial set ofplaying cards. A collection surface is provided in a card collectionarea for receiving randomized playing cards. In one embodiment of theinvention, a card feed mechanism individually transfers cards from thereceiving area into the card collection area. The device furtherincludes an elevator for raising and lowering the collection surfacewithin the card collection area. At least one card supporting elementwithin the card collection area supports and suspends a randomlydetermined number of cards within the card collection area. In oneexample of the invention, a pair of spaced-apart gripping members areprovided to grasp the opposite edges of the group of cards beingsuspended.

A card insertion point is created in the card collection area beneaththe suspended randomly determined group of cards. The card feedmechanism delivers a card into the insertion point. Card values may beread before or during card insertion. The cards are not required to beread as they are being removed from the shuffler (as in a reading headlocated in a dealer delivery portion of a shuffler), although such anadditional reading capability may be added in some constructions (inaddition to the internal reading of the rank and/or suit of cards) wherethere is a dealer card-by-card delivery section.

Card sensors may be provided to trigger camera activation so that thecamera may distribute a single analog or digital snapshot of a card faceand the camera does not have to send a steady stream of information. Thecard sensors (trigger sensors) may initiate or activate the image-takingprocedure by the camera by noting a leading edge of a card, a trailingedge of the card, a time frame when the sensor is blocked, or a delayedactivation (e.g., the card triggers an image-taking event to occur aftera specified time has elapsed, such as the time expected for a card tomove from trigger sensor to the camera focal plane). A leading edgesensor may trigger camera activity when the leading edge of the card haspassed over the camera focal point, and the edge then triggers theimage-taking event at a time when the symbols are over the camera focalpoint or focal plane. A trailing edge sensor would trigger the cameraevent when the trailing edge has passed over the sensor, which is at ameasured distance that places the symbols over the camera focal plane.

An automatic card shuffling device is disclosed. The device includes amicroprocessor with memory for controlling the operation of the device.An in-feed compartment is provided for receiving cards to be randomized.In one example of the invention, the lower surface of the in-feedcompartment is stationary. In another example of the invention, thelower surface is movable in a vertical direction by means of anelevator. A card moving mechanism moves cards individually from thein-feed compartment into a card mixing compartment. The card mixingcompartment includes a plurality of substantially vertical supports andan opening for the passage of cards from the in-feed compartment. In oneform of the invention, the opening consists of a slot. The card mixingcompartment also includes a movable lower support surface and at leastone stationary gripping arm, a lower edge of the gripping arm beingproximate to the opening and the gripping arm, the opening allowing forthe passage of cards into the card mixing compartment just below thegripped group of cards. The gripping arm is capable of suspending a cardor a group of cards of a randomly determined size above the opening. Inone example, the opening is a horizontal slot.

The device preferably includes an integrally formed automatedcalibration system. One function of the automated calibration system isto identify the vertical position of the elevator support platformrelative to a lowermost gripping position of the grippers so that thestack of cards in the card mixing compartment can be separated at aprecise location in the stack and so that a specific numbers of cardscan be accurately lifted and specific card insert positions can bedetermined for insertion of cards into the randomizing stack of cards.Another function of the automated calibration system of the presentinvention is to automatically adjust the position of the grippers tocompensate for different card length, width and/or card thicknesses. Inone form of the invention, card values are read before or during cardinsertion. The value of the read card(s) may be stored in memory in theshuffling/randomizing device or sent to a distal memory for storageand/or immediate use.

Another function of the automated calibration system is to determine thenumber of incremental movements of elevator stepper motors thatcorresponds to the thickness of each card. This information is then usedto determine a precise location of the elevator in order to form eachpoint of separation in the group of cards during shuffling.

An elevator is provided for raising and lowering a movable card supportsurface. In operation, a vertical position of the elevator is randomlyselected and the support surface is moved to the selected position.After the gripping arm grasps at least one side of the cards, theelevator lowers, suspending a group of cards, and creating a space (orpoint of insertion) beneath the gripping arm, wherein a single card ismoved from the in-feed compartment into the space created, therebyrandomizing the order of the cards.

A method of calibrating a shuffling machine prior to and during therandomization of a group of cards is described. The method comprises thesteps of placing a group of cards to be randomized into a card in-feedtray and removing a calibration card from the in-feed tray, and placingthe card in the card randomizing area, also known as the card collectionarea. The elevator and grippers are operated until a precise location ofthe bottommost card that can be gripped is identified. Either before orafter this calibration process, the card width is measured, and thegrippers are adjusted to put sufficient tension on the cards to suspendthe entire group of cards to be shuffled.

According to the invention, cards are individually fed from the cardin-feed tray and delivered into a card collection area. The cardcollection area has a movable lower surface, and a stationary openingfor receiving cards from the in-feed tray. The method includes elevatingthe movable lower surface to a randomly determined height and graspingat least one edge of a group of cards in the card collection area at apoint just above the stationary opening. The method further includes thesteps of lowering the movable lower surface to create an opening in astack of cards formed on the lower surface, the opening located justbeneath a lowermost point where the cards are grasped and inserting acard removed from the in-feed tray into the opening.

A device capable of automatically calibrating is described that iscapable of automatically making adjustments to process cards ofdifferent dimensions. The device includes a card in-feed tray, a cardmoving mechanism that transports cards from the in-feed tray into a cardcollection area; an elevator within the card collection area that raisesand lowers the group of fed cards; a device capable of suspending all orpart of the fed cards above the card feeder; and a microprocessor thatselects the position in the stack where the next card is to be inserted,and instructs the device capable of suspending and the elevator tocreate a gap, and then instructing the card moving mechanism to insertthe card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of an exterior shell of ashuffling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of internal elements of a shufflingapparatus according to teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an offset card transport mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an offset card transport mechanism accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a picking systemwith a single or joint belt drive for moving picker elements.

FIG. 6 shows an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of ashuffling apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side cutaway view of one embodiment of a shufflingapparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second example of an exterior shellof a shuffling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a side cutaway view of one embodiment of a shufflingapparatus with card-reading camera available.

FIG. 10 shows a top cutaway view of another embodiment of a shufflingapparatus with card-reading camera available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An automatic shuffling device is described for forming a randomlyarranged set of playing cards. One embodiment of the device of thepresent invention shuffles between one and eight or more decks of cards(standard deck or decks of 52 cards each or 52 cards plus one or twojokers) and is particularly well suited for providing randomized batchesof cards for games such as single-deck blackjack, poker, double-deckblackjack, and multi-deck blackjack, for example. Another embodiment ofthe invention is suitable for shuffling either a single deck or twodecks of cards.

The device includes a top surface and a bottom surface, a card receivingarea for receiving an initial set of playing cards to be randomized anda randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set ofplaying cards. The device further includes a card collection area and acard collection surface within the card collection area for receivingrandomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards in amanner such that all cards are inserted into the collection area belowthe top surface of the device. An elevator is provided for raising andlowering the collection surface during shuffling, and elevating theshuffled (alternatively referred to as ‘randomized’) group of cards atleast as high as the top surface of the device after shuffling (that is,the lowest card in the shuffled group of cards is raised to a levelwhere it may be easily and manually removed from that level, preferablywith the lowest card being level with or above a plane defining the topsurface of the device). A card suspension mechanism, such as a pair ofoppositely spaced grippers grasps some or all of the cards on the cardcollection surface. The elevator is lowered, creating a gap or point ofinsertion for the next card to be fed. Once shuffling is complete, thecards are elevated so that they can be removed by an attendant or dealerand used for dealing. While cards are being dealt, a second group ofcards is being randomized. The use of two groups of cards eliminates anywaiting on the part of the dealer or the casino patrons between roundsof play.

For example, because the device is able to transport cards rapidly andread card values (e.g., suit and rank, or special values, such as wildcards, jokers, etc.), the device may be used as a deck verificationsystem as well as card shuffler/randomizer. There are a number of modesby which this can be practiced. The least complicated, but lesspreferred method is to have the device shuffle or randomize a completeset of cards and have each and all of the cards of the set read andcompared to the expected content (e.g., in a look-up table for a regularor special deck, a number of regular or special decks, and the like). Bycomparing the read values to the stored values, the set of cards can beverified. The stored values can be provided from a previous reading ofthe set of cards (e.g., during an earlier shuffle/randomization) or froma separate reading of the cards from a separate device, such as a cardreading tray (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,848), or a dealing shoe (e.g.,U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,403,908; 5,605,334; 6,039,650; and 5,722,893).Comparison to the earlier stored values can be performed in themicroprocessor in the shuffling device, or the information can betransferred from a port to a distal microprocessor (e.g., centralcomputer) that also has the stored values, or at both locations.

A more preferred method would be to activate a special mode within theshuffling device wherein cards would be removed one at a time from thecard in-feed tray of the shuffler (possibly in an order that had alreadybeen read from another device or by the shuffling device in an earlierreading of the cards), and there is a special support plate that canreceive the entire set of cards without having to create openings forcard insertion. For example, the grippers could be deactivated and allcards could be transferred in order onto the support plate. This canspeed up the card set validation as compared to an actual shuffling orrandomization process. In this fast verification mode, the camera mayoperate with single, quick shot images of each card or provide the datain a steady stream, since there would be less data (because of thefaster movement of the cards and set of cards) as compared to ashuffling procedure. The data stream in the fast verification mode wouldnot be as excessive as in a shuffling mode. Cards could be read whenstationary or in motion, in the card in-feed tray or during transferonto the support plate.

There are a number of special features that combine to make the presentinvention a significant advance over previously described card shufflingsystems and card shuffling processes. Individual features thatconstitute an advance, alone or in combination with other features,include a system for automatically calibrating and inspecting theposition and performance of an elevator for moving the final set ofrandomized cards upwardly so that the stack is accessible to the dealeror attendant. In one example of the invention, the elevator elevates thegroup of cards to the playing table surface. The same elevatoradvantageously assists in accomplishing shuffling within the cardcollection and/or mixing area.

The card collection area, in another example of the invention, has aplurality of vertical supports (e.g., two or three walls, or four wallswith a manually accessible area where the lowest card may be gripped),and a movable lower surface. The elevator supports this movable lowersurface (also referred to herein as the collection surface) and causesthe surface to move back and forth (relatively up and down) in asubstantially vertical direction. One function of the movement of theelevator (during the shuffling or randomizing sequence) is to position astack of cards within the card collection area so that a card or cardscan be inserted into the stack in a specifically selected or randomlyselected precise position within the stack to randomize, organize, orarrange the cards in a desired order, such as “pack order” forinspection (particularly after reading the suit and rank of cards), or arandomized order so that the cards are shuffled into a set of cards thatcan be dealt to players. The insertion of cards may be performed in anumber of ways, such as by lifting or by dropping a section of the stackand inserting one or more (and preferably just one) cards into the gap,by positioning the stack near a card insertion position and insertingone or more cards into the stack, or inserting a wedge-like element orblade between cards in the stack to elevate a portion of the stack wherecard(s) may be inserted (as described in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,695,189 (assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.), which is incorporatedherein by reference).

In a preferred mode of operation of the shuffler of the presentinvention, a picking, gripping, or separating system is provided forsuspending segments of the stack of cards present in the card collectionarea, creating an opening in the group of cards so that a card or cardscan be inserted in specific locations relative to other cards in thedeck. A variant of this system is described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/967,502, filed Jan. 8, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981,issued Nov. 25, 2003 (assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.). According tothat invention, the picking, gripping or card suspending system is fixedin the vertical direction. By randomly selecting a vertical position forthe movable base of the card receiving area prior to picking, thelocation of an opening created in the stack of cards by gripping aportion of the cards and lowering another portion of the cards below thegripping area is varied, with random insertion of cards into theseopenings causing randomization of the cards.

Offset rollers are the preferred mechanism provided for moving theindividual cards from the card receiving area into the card collectionarea, although air jets, belts, injection plates, injection blades, andthe like, may also be used for moving individual cards or small numbersof cards (e.g., one, two, three, four, or five cards) into the cardreceiving area. A stack stabilizing area is provided, in one example ofthe invention, for receiving an elevated final set of cards lifted fromthe card collection area. This stack stabilization area should bepositioned or positionable above the top of the device or should beginat the top of the device. In another example of the invention, theelevator itself is equipped with a stack stabilizing structure that islowered into the inside of the shuffler prior to the randomization ofcards. In one embodiment later described in greater detail, a deliveryor elevator platform provides its own card stabilization area or, inconjunction with an elevator drive arm, provides such a cardstabilization area. In one example of the invention, a single belt driveis provided for driving two spaced-apart and opposed, verticallydisposed picking elements in a card segment picking system. The pickingelements are vertically disposed along the path of movement of thecollection area of cards in the collection shaft, and are horizontallydisposed or opposed with respect to each other. A microprocessor isprovided that employs a random number generator to identify or create anintended (including random) distribution of an initial set of cards inthe card receiving area at the conclusion of shuffling. Themicroprocessor executes movement of elements in the shuffling apparatus,including the opposed picking elements and the elevator, to effectplacement of each card into spaces in the stack created by the shufflingapparatus, and a randomized set of cards is rapidly formed. Thatmicroprocessor (in the shuffling device or in an associated game device)or a separate or parallel microprocessor is used to direct thecalibration steps. In one example of the invention, the picking elementsmove horizontally to grasp opposite edges of a group of cards. Othersuspension systems are contemplated, such as inserting a flat memberbetween the cards above the point of separation.

The individual and combined elements of the invention will be describedin detail, after a more general description of the invention isprovided. A first general description of the invention is a device forforming a randomized set of playing cards comprising: a top surface anda bottom surface of the device; a receiving area for an initial set ofplaying cards; a randomizing system for randomizing the order of theinitial set of playing cards; a collection surface in a card collectionarea for receiving the randomized playing cards; an elevator for raisingthe collection surface within the card collection area; and at least onecard supporting element within the card collection area that ishorizontally fixed with respect to the vertical. The card supportingelement will support and suspend a precise number of a randomlydetermined number of cards within the card collection area to create agap or space within the stack of cards within the collection area thatis a card insertion point. The card insertion point or gap is created inthe card collection area just below the lowermost portion of the cardsupporting element or elements. The card supporting elements thensupport a next group of cards, and the elevator beneath the cardcollection area is lowered, lowering a remaining group of cards andcreating a gap.

The device may have one or more card supporting elements comprising atleast one card supporting element vertically disposed on at least oneside of the card collection area. In the alternative, the cardsupporting elements include at least two opposed supporting elements,such as flexible or soft (e.g., polymeric, elastomer, rubber orrubber-coated) gripping elements, that can move inwardly along ahorizontal plane within the card collection area to contact and supportthe opposite edges of at least a portion of the stack, substack, orgroup of cards. Alternatively, a horizontally disposed flat member, suchas a pair of forks or a flat plate, may be inserted between the cards,so that when the elevator is lowered, an insertion point or gap isformed. A “substack” may be defined as all cards within the collectionarea at or above a randomly selected card or position in the stackwithin the card collection area. The device preferably has amicroprocessor communicatively connected to the device. Themicroprocessor in one example of the invention is programmed todetermine a distance that the card supporting surface must be verticallymoved in order to position each card in the desired order within thestack. In one example of the invention, cards fed into the cardcollection area may be placed anywhere in the stack, including the topor bottom position. This flexibility advantageously allows for a morerandom shuffle and avoids “dead” areas within the collected stack ofcards.

The device of the present invention advantageously senses the length orwidth of the cards and adjusts the horizontal distance between thegripping arms so that cards of varying lengths or widths can besuspended. Whether the width or length is sensed depends on thedesigner's selected location of the grippers within the card collectionarea.

In one example of the invention, the microprocessor instructs the deviceto feed a first card into the card collection area and to grip the cardat a width representing the width of a standard group of cards. If thesensors sense that a card is suspended, no adjustments to a horizontalspacing between gripping arms is necessary. If no suspended cards aresensed, the microprocessor instructs an adjustable gripping supportmechanism to move a preselected distance and the gripping and sensingprocess is repeated. When the final adjustment has been made, cards aresuspended and their presence is sensed. The microprocessor then retainsthis gripping mechanism distance setting. Alternatively, when theprocessor instructs the grippers to suspend one or more cards and nosuspended cards are sensed, the adjustment sequence is activated. Thisentire process will be described in further detail herein.

The microprocessor is communicatively connected to the device and ismost preferably located within the exterior shell of the device. Themicroprocessor may be programmed to lower the card collection surfacewithin the card collection area after the at least one card supportingelement has contacted and supported cards suspending a group of cardswithin the card collection area, creating two vertically spacedsubstacks of cards, one suspended, separated by a gap or opening betweenthe cards. Recognition of the presence of suspended and/or supportedcard(s) within the card collection area may be provided by sensors thatare capable of sensing the presence of card(s) within the area byphysical (e.g., weight), mechanical (e.g., pressure), electrical (e.g.,resistance or conductance), optical (e.g., reflective, opacification,reading) or other sensing. The microprocessor may direct movement of oneor more individual cards into the gap created between the two segments(upper and lower) of cards. The microprocessor may be programmed torandomly determine a distance that the card supporting surface must bevertically moved in order to position at least one specific card. Thismethod, including measurement of card thickness, will be described inmore detail below. In the alternative, the microprocessor may beprogrammed to select a specific card position below or above a certaincard, creating the gap. When the card supporting element moves tocontact cards within the card collection area, and the elevator movesthe card supporting surface downwardly, a gap is created for receivingthe next card.

The elevator operates in a unique manner to position cards relative tothe pickers or grippers within the shuffling chamber. This uniqueoperation offers significant benefits that remove the need for humanintervention in the setup or continuing operation of the shufflingdevice. Among the alternative and optional unique features of theoperation of the shuffling device of the present invention are includedthe following sequence of events. These events need not necessarily becombined within a single process to represent inventive steps, asindividual steps and combinations of two or more steps may be used todefine inventive processes.

In order to calibrate the shuffling device of the present invention tooperate for a particular card size, a calibration set of cardscomprising at least one card (usually one, although two, three, four ormore cards could be used) is inserted into the shuffling chamber priorto shuffling. The elevator base plate defining the base of the shufflingchamber moves the calibration set of cards to the position within thechamber approximating a position within the gripper (not necessarily ata level or equal position with the bottom of the grippers), and thegrippers move inwardly (towards opposed edges of the cards) and attemptsto grip the card(s). If the grippers grip the card(s), a sensoridentifies either that the card(s) have been gripped by the grippers orthat the card(s) remain on the collection surface of the elevator(depending upon the position of the sensors). If there is no indicationthat a card(s) has been gripped, then the grippers move inwardly towardeach other horizontally a set number of steps (e.g., “steps” being unitsof movement, as in movement through a microstepping motor or unit ofmovement through any other motivating system), and the process isrepeated. This gripping, sensing and moving sequence is repeated untilthe sensor(s) sense that a card has been lifted off the support plateand/or is supported in the grippers. The microprocessor identifies afixed progression of steps of predetermined sizes that are used in thisgripping calibration as well as the position that accomplished thegripping. These determinations of card dimensions, gripping positionsand elevator position may be done independently and/or in concert.

It is logical to proceed with the gripping identification first. Thegrippers move inwardly a predetermined distance, initially and inrepeated testing. For example, in the first gripping attempt, thegrippers may move in 10 or 15 or other number of steps. A larger numberthan one step or unit is initially desirable to ensure that a rapidfirst grip is attained. After the first grip of a card(s) is sensed,then the microprocessor will widen the grip by fixed numbers of steps(here single steps may be used), with the widening occurring until nocard is gripped. Once no card is gripped, a sufficient number of stepsare added to the gripper movement to ensure gripping and even slightelastic bending of the card by the grippers so that more cards can besupported and so that cards will not slip. This may be 1, 2, 4, 5, 8,10, 12, 15, or any other number of steps, to ensure that secure grippingis effected. This procedure defines the “gripping” and “card release”position of the grippers for a particular group of cards. Themicroprocessor records the stepper motor positions corresponding to thegripper positions and uses this information to position the grippersduring shuffling.

Now the platform offset is to be set (as opposed to the gripper offsetpositioning). The elevator is put in a base or home position, which maybe the position of the elevator (the height of the elevator) at thelowest position possible, or at a position below a framing support atthe base of the collection chamber or some other predetermined position.The elevator is then raised in a series of a number of steps (again, inthe initial gripping attempt, using larger numbers of steps is desirableto speed up the overall process, while during a more refined positionedidentification/calibration sequence, smaller numbers of steps, evensingle steps, would be used) and the grippers are activated after eachstep, until the card is caught by the gripper for the first time. Thenumber of steps moved each time for the first gripping action ispreferably larger than single steps to assure that this card will begripped at the lowermost edge of the grippers. Again, this may be 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, etc., steps (or any number in between, or a largernumber of steps). Once the calibration card(s) is gripped, this is anindication that the platform has now raised the cards to at least thebottom of the grippers. Once gripping has occurred, the elevator is thenlowered by a smaller number of incremental stop positions (a fineradjustment) and a new position evaluated as to whether the gripperswould then grip the calibration card. The process is repeated until thecalibration card is just below the lowermost gripping position. Thisposition is then recorded in memory. The repositioning is accomplishedby lowering the elevator and support plate to a position well below thegrippers and then raising the plate to a position a predetermined numberof steps lower than the last position where the card(s) was gripped, andsensing whether the card was gripped at the new position. Depending uponthe arrangement of the sensors, plates, and cards, it is possible tomerely ungrip the card, then lower the elevator one or morepredetermined number of steps, then attempt to regrip the card, andsense whether the card has been gripped.

Once the card has been lowered just below the gripper, a secondcalibration card is added to the card collection surface. The elevatorposition is registered and/or recorded. The precision of the systemenables options in the practice of the invention, such as the following.After a single card has been gripped, and a position determined wherethat single card will not be gripped with a slightly lowered elevatorposition (e.g., movement downward, which may be anywhere from 2 to 20steps or more), another calibration card or cards may then be added tothe shuffling chamber on top of the calibration card(s). The elevatorand grippers may then be exercised, with the elevator moving singlesteps until the sensor(s) determine that one card has been gripped andlifted off the support plate and another card(s) remains on the supportplate. To this position is added a number of steps equal to a card'sthickness, and this final position is defined as the platform offset andidentifies the position where the bottommost card would be lifted off ofthe support plate.

Prior to inserting the first calibration card, the elevator is raised toa predetermined sensed position in the card collection area, and thatposition or elevation is recorded in memory. After the first group ofcards are inserted and randomized, the procedure is repeated, this timeeither measuring the height of the elevator when the top card in thestack was at the original height of the elevator, or measuring a newheight of the top of the stack of cards when the elevator returns tothat recorded position. The difference in distances represents thethickness of the deck or group of cards. As each card is fed into thecard collection surface, the number of cards is counted and this numberis recorded. The processor uses both pieces of information to calculatean average card's thickness, and to associate the number of motor stepsto one card thickness. This information is then used in positioning theelevator for precise placement in the next shuffle.

At this point, all of the remaining cards in the deck(s) may be added tothe shuffling chamber (either directly, or into the card receivingchamber and then into the card shuffling chamber). The system may thencheck on the efficiency of the grippers by raising the deck to a levelwhere all cards should be gripped, the grippers grip the entire deck(one, two, three or more times), and the elevator lowered. If no cardsare dropped in the chamber, the system may proceed to normal shufflingprocedures. If the grippers leave a card or if a card falls back intothe shuffling chamber, the gripper action may be automatically ormanually (by an operator signal) adjusted to provided greater force onthe cards, and the deck lift procedure is then attempted again, untilthe entire deck is lifted. The entire calibration process may have to berepeated if there is any uncorrectable failure in a complete deck lifttest procedure. The shuffler preferably includes a multiple-segmentinformation display as described in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. No.6,325,373, titled “Method and Apparatus for Automatically Cutting andShuffling Playing Cards,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporatedby reference. The display may then indicate information relating to thestate of the shuffler, such as the indication “AUTO ADJUST COMPLETE” andthe operator may proceed with normal shuffling procedures, with orwithout further instruction on the display panel.

The calibration process described above is preferably repeatedperiodically to compensate for swelling and bending of the cards. In apreferred form of the invention, two cards are fed into the device andseparated prior to each shuffle to verify that the device is stillproperly calibrated. If the cards do not separate, the calibrationsequence is repeated. The device of the present invention includes a jamrecovery feature similar to that described in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat.No. 6,325,373. However, upon the fourth failure (or other number offailures) to recover from a jam, one or more of the calibration featuresdescribed above are automatically activated.

This element of the total calibration process will thus calibrate theshuffling device in advance of any shuffling procedure with respect tothe position of the bottom card (the card touching the elevator baseplate or support plate) by moving the elevator up and down, by grippingand regripping the cards to identify a position where no cards aregripped and then a position where only one card is gripped. The othergripping-regripping procedure within the total calibration process willalso identify and calibrate the shuffling apparatus with respect to theunique size of cards placed into the shuffling apparatus. Based on theknowledge of how many cards have been inserted into the shufflingchamber in the set (preferably one card and then two cards total), themicroprocessor identifies and determines the position of the elevatorsupport plate, the appropriate position of the elevator support platewith respect to the grippers, and the relative height of the number ofcards in the set on the elevator card support plate. This information isstored for use with the particular stack of cards to be used in theshuffling process. When subsequent decks are inserted, the operator mayoptionally indicate that the decks are sufficiently similar that theentire process need not be performed or that the process may beinitiated, or the machine may automatically make a check of a singlecard to determine if it appears to be the same size, and then initiatethe shuffling program if the card is identified as the same size.

Additionally or alternatively, once the calibration set of cards hasbeen first gripped, the grippers release the cards and regrip the cards,measuring any one or more of a) the position of the grippers relative toeach other (with one or more of the two opposed grippers moving, the“steps” or other measurable indicator of extent of movement or positionof the grippers) is determined and registered for use by themicroprocessor; b) the force or tension between the grippers with thecalibration set of cards or only one card gripped between the grippers;c) the height of a top card (or the single card) in the calibration setwhen cards are flexed by the force of the grippers (which may bemeasured by sensors positions in the shuffling chamber), or any othersystem may be used that identifies and/or measures a property orcondition indicative of the gripping of the cards with a force in arange between a force insufficient to support the weight of thecalibration set against slippage and bending the cards to a point wherea card might lift off other cards in the calibration set. Thecalibration distance is typically in a range of between 93% and 99.5% ofthe width of the cards or, more typically, the length of the cards, asmeasured by picker movement.

The positioning, repositioning and gripping of the cards are performedautomatically and directed by the microprocessor or an additionalmicroprocessor (there may even be a networked central control computer,but a microprocessor in the device is preferred). The elevator and thegrippers are moved by steps or micro steps by a microstepping motor orother fine-movement control system (e.g., hydraulic system, screwsystem, geared system, and the like). The use of the automatic processeliminates the need for technicians to set up individual machines, whichmust be done at regular intervals because of wear on parts or when cardsare replaced. As noted, the positioning may be performed with acalibration set as small as a single card. After the automatedcalibration or position determination has been performed, themicroprocessor remembers that position and shuffling can be initiatedwith the stack of cards from which the calibration cards were taken.

This calibration or preshuffling protocol may be used in conjunctionwith any system where an elevator is used, whether with grippers, cardinserting devices, injectors, and the like (as described above), and notonly the specific apparatus shown in the figures. A similar calibrationsystem for determining specific positions of carousel chambers in acarousel-type shuffling device may also be used, without grippers. Thecarousel may be rotated and the position of the shelves in the carouselwith respect to other functional elements in the device may bedetermined. For example, card reading devices, card injectioncomponents, card removal elements, and card receiving chambers may becalibrated with regard to each other. As is understood by thoseordinarily skilled in the art, there may be variations chosen amongcomponents, sequences of steps, and types of steps performed, with thosechanges still reflecting the spirit and scope of the invention disclosedherein.

In addition, the card collection chamber need not be verticallydisposed. The chamber could be angled with respect to the vertical toimprove contact between the card edges and the support structure locatedwithin the card collection area.

As noted, this description reflects a detailed description of thepreferred practice of the invention with grippers. Alternative systems,such as those with injectors or stack wedges, may also be used with thecalibration system of the invention with modifications reflecting thedifferent systems. For example, where the calibration in the preferredembodiment addresses the level of the grippers with respect to cards andthe elevator support plate, the system may be translated to calibrationof air injectors, wedge lifters, and blade or plate injectors. This isdone with an equivalent procedure for identifying the position of acard(s) placed on the support plate. For example, rather than performingrepeated tests with a gripper, repeated tests may be performed with anair injector (to see when a card is ejected or injected by itsoperation), with a blade or plate injector (to see when a card isejected or injected by its operation), or with a wedge separator withassociated card(s) insertion (to see when the stack (e.g., a single cardor a number of cards) is raised or when a card may be ejected orinjected by its operation with minimum force).

The device of the present invention is also capable of monitoring cardthickness and uses this information to accurately determine the locationor position in the stack where separation is to occur. When combinedwith the ability to read card rank and suit, the device is capable ofverifying that all cards are present and verifying the final order ofthe cards.

In another embodiment, a first sensor located in the shuffling chambersenses the height of the platform within the shuffling chamber in itslowermost position prior to the beginning of the randomization process,when no cards are in the shuffling chamber. The sensor could also sensethe platform position in any other predetermined or “home” position.

After randomization, when all cards have been transferred into theshuffling chamber, the platform is returned to this same position, andthe same or another sensor located in the shuffling chamber (alsoreferred to herein as the collection chamber) may sense the height ofthe top card in the stack. The difference between the two measurementsrepresents the thickness of the stack of cards. This is an alternatemethod of measuring stack thickness.

Sensors (such as optical sensors, sonic sensors, physical sensors,electrical sensors, and the like, as previously described) sense cardsas they are individually fed from the in-feed tray into the shufflingchamber. This information is used by the microprocessor to verify thatthe expected number of cards is present. In one example of theinvention, if cards are missing or extra cards are present, the displaywill indicate a misdeal and will automatically unload.

The microprocessor uses the two height measurements and the card countto calculate an average card thickness. This thickness measurement isused to determine at what height the elevator must be in order toseparate the stack between any two “target” cards.

The average card thickness can be recalculated each time the shuffler isactivated upon power-up, or according to a schedule, such as every 10 to30 minutes, with 20-minute intervals as one preferred example.

The inventors have recognized that deck thickness increases the more thecards are used, as humidity in the air increases, and as cards becomeworn. Under humid conditions, it might be desirable to check the cardthickness more often than every 20 minutes. Under extreme conditions ofcontinuous use and high humidity, it might be desirable to recalculatean average card thickness after the completion of every shuffle.

A novel method of determining an average card thickness measurementduring shuffling is disclosed herein as an invention. The methodincludes providing a stack of cards, providing a card feeder capable ofrelative motion between the card feeder and the stack, and determining ahome position of the stack platform. The home position indicates aheight of the elevator platform when no cards are present in thestacking area. The method further includes feeding cards into thestacking area, counting a number of cards placed into the stacking areaas they are fed, sensing a height of a topmost card in the stack whenthe elevator is returned to the same home position, and computing anaverage card thickness from the collected information (e.g., stackheight divided by the number of cards equals the height per card).

The average card thickness is advantageously used to determine theposition of card grippers used to grasp cards. Upon lowering theplatform beneath the grippers, an opening is formed at a precisepredetermined location, allowing precise placement of the next cardbetween two “target” cards.

According to the present invention, a sensor is positioned at a point ofinsertion into the group of cards in the card collection area. Each timea gap is formed, the sensor verifies that the gap is open, e.g., that nocards are suspended or are hanging due to static forces. The card feederactivates when the sensor indicates the opening is clear. This methodavoids jams and provides faster shuffling as compared to programming atime delay between the gripping of cards and subsequent lowering of theelevator and the insertion of the next card.

Another general description of a preferred device according to theinvention is a device for forming a randomized set of playing cards, thedevice comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface of the device; areceiving area for supporting an initial set of playing cards to berandomized; a randomizing system for randomizing the initial set ofplaying cards; and a collection surface in a card collection area forreceiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface being movablein a vertical direction. In one example of the invention, cards arereceived onto the collection surface, either positioned directly on thesurface or positioned indirectly on a card supported by the surface. Allcards being randomized in this example are inserted into the cardcollection area at a location below the top surface of the device. Inone example of the invention, cards are fed individually off of thebottom of the stack located in the card receiving area and into the cardcollection area.

An elevator is provided for raising the collection surface so that atthe conclusion of shuffling, at least some randomized cards are elevatedto a position at or above the top surface of the device. The elevatormay be capable of raising all or part of the randomized cards at orabove the top surface of the device. A cover may be provided to protector mask the cards until they are elevated into a delivery position fromwhich a dealer may remove the cards manually. The device may have astack stabilizing area defined by a confining set of walls defining ashuffled card delivery area that confines all randomized cards along atleast two, and preferably three edges after the randomized cards areelevated.

Alternatively, the card collection surface itself, elements positionedon the top surface of the shuffler or elements moved above the topsurface of the shuffler may act to stabilize the cards so that they aremore easily removed by the dealer's hand(s). The present invention alsocontemplates raising the shuffled group of cards to the top surface ofthe shuffler, where there are no confining structures around the cards.In one example of the invention, the top surface of the shuffler isflush-mounted into the gaming table surface, and the cards are delivereddirectly to the gaming table surface after shuffling.

The delivery area may be positioned such that its lower interior surfaceis at the same elevation as the top surface of the shuffler. The lowerinterior surface may be elevated above the top surface, or positionedbeneath the top surface of the shuffler. In one example of theinvention, the lower interior surface is at the same elevation as thetop of the exterior of the shuffler. If the shuffler is mounted into andcompletely surrounded by a gaming table surface, it would be desirableto deliver cards so that the bottom card in the stack is at the sameelevation as the gaming table surface.

The card receiving area may be sloped downwardly towards the randomizingsystem to assist movement of playing cards. The device may have at leastone pick-off roller to remove cards one at a time from the cardreceiving area and to move cards, one at a time, toward the randomizingcomponents of the system. Although in one example of the invention therandomizing system suspends cards and inserts cards in a gap createdbelow the suspended cards, other randomization systems can be employed,such as the random ejection shuffling technique disclosed in Sines etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,483, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference. The at least one pair of speed-up rollersdesirably receive cards from the at least one pick-off roller. Amicroprocessor preferably controls movement of the pick-off roller andthe at least one pair of speed-up rollers. The first card is preferablymoved by the pick-off roller so that, as later described in greaterdetail, movement of the pick-off roller is altered (i.e., stopped orotherwise altered so that tension contact with the card is reduced orended) so that no card other than the first (lowermost) card is moved byeither the pick-off roller or the at least one pair of speed-up rollers.This can be done by sensing of the movement or tension on the first cardaffected by the at least one pair of speed-up rollers, causing thepick-off roller to disengage from the drive mechanism and freely rotateand to not propel the card.

The microprocessor, for example, may be programmed to direct thepick-off roller to disengage from the drive mechanism and to ceasepropelling a first card being moved by the pick-off roller when it issensed that the first card is being moved by the at least one pair ofspeed-up rollers. A preferred randomization system moves one card at atime into an area overlying the collection surface. It is desirable tohave one card at a time positioned into a randomized set of playingcards over the playing card collection surface. Again, as with the firstgeneral structure, the card collection area may be bordered on twoopposed sides by two vertically disposed, horizontally opposed movablecard supporting elements. There is preferably an insertion point, suchas an opening or slot, to the card collection area that is located belowa bottom edge of the two movable card supporting elements. The cardsupporting surface is vertically positionable within the card collectionarea, usually under the control and direction of a microprocessor. Forexample, the card supporting surface is moved by a motivator or elevatorthat is able to move incremental vertical distances that are no greaterthan the thickness of a playing card, such as incremental verticaldistances that are no greater than one-half the thickness of a playingcard. The motor may be, for example, a microstepper motor or an analogmotor.

A sensor may be present within the collection area, below the topsurface of the device, the sensor detecting a position of a top card ofa group of cards in the card collection area below the group ofsuspended cards. In the alternative or in concert, the sensor detectsthe level of the card collection surface. In addition, a preferredembodiment of the device monitors the elevation of the top card when thetwo groups of cards are combined into one group, and adjusts for changesin the thickness of the deck due to swelling, humidity, card wear,bowing of cards, etc. A microprocessor is preferably present in thedevice to control vertical movement of the card collection surface. Thesensor may identify the position of the collection surface to place thetop card at a position level with the bottom of at least one cardsupporting element that is movable substantially horizontally from atleast one side of the collection area towards playing cards within thecard collection area.

In one example of the invention, an opening, such as a slot, is providedin a side wall of the card collection area to permit transfer of cardsfrom the card receiving area into the card collection area. The sidewall may comprise a substantially solid support structure, adjoiningedges of a plurality of vertical L-shaped corner support structures, orother equivalent structure capable of retaining a stack of cards in asubstantially upright position. The microprocessor may be programmed todetermine a distance that the card supporting surface must be verticallymoved to position at least one specific card, including or other thanthe top cared, at a bottom edge of the at least one card supportingelement when the card supporting element moves to contact cards withinthe card collection area. As previously described, the at least one cardsupporting element may comprise at least two elements, such as grippingpads that move from horizontally opposed sides of the collection areatowards playing cards within the card collection area.

The microprocessor may be programmed to lower the card collectionsurface within the card collection area after the at least one cardsupporting element has contacted and supported cards within the cardcollection area, creating two vertically spaced-apart segments orsubstacks of cards. The microprocessor directs movement of an individualcard into the card supporting area between the two separated segments ofcards. The microprocessor may direct movement of playing card movingelements within the device. The microprocessor randomly assigns finalpositions for each card within the initial set of playing cards, andthen directs the device to arrange the initial set of playing cards intothose randomly assigned final positions to form a final set ofrandomized playing cards. Each card is inserted into the building stackof collected (randomized or shuffled) cards by positioning them inrespect to the other cards already in the stack. Thus, even if a firstcard is not intended to be adjacent to a particular card, but isintended to be above that particular card, the first card is positionedabove (and possibly adjacent to) the particular card, and interveningcards in the intended sequence added between the first card and theparticular card.

In one embodiment of the invention, the card receiving area is locatedsuch that individual cards are fed off of the bottom of the stack,through the slot formed in the card collection area, directly beneaththe gripping elements. In another example of the invention, a cardloading elevator is provided so that the cards can be loaded into thecard receiving area at an elevation higher than that of the firstembodiment. The elevator then lowers the cards to a vertical positionaligned with the feed mechanism. The use of an elevator on the cardloading area is also an ergonomic benefit, as the dealer can keep handand arm movements at a consistent level and does not have to reach intothe device or have to drop cards into the device. The cards to berandomized can be inserted at a level approximately equal to the top ofthe shuffler, which can also be the height at which a randomized set ofcards can be removed from the device.

When the device is used to process large batches of cards, such asgroups of eight decks, it is desirable to provide a feed elevator tolower the entire batch of cards beneath the top surface of the shufflerprior to shuffling. The card feeding mechanism from the card receivingarea to the card collection or shuffling area is necessarily positionedlower in a shuffler that processes more cards than in a shuffler thatprocesses fewer cards.

When a large number of cards is to be inserted into the machine forshuffling, a retaining structure may be provided, consisting of a cardstop or frame to limit card movement on up to three sides of theelevator. The open side or sides permit the dealer to load the stackfrom the side of the elevator, rather than trying to load the elevatorfrom above, and allowing cards to fall freely and turn over.

A randomizing elevator is provided for moving the cards being randomizedand operates to raise and lower the bottom card support surface of thecard collection area. This elevator moves during randomization, and alsoaids in the delivery of the shuffled group of cards by raising theshuffled cards to a delivery area. Reference to the figures will assistin appreciation and enablement of the practice of the present invention.Upwardly extending side walls on the card collection surface, anelevator arm or extension of an elevator arm, or another elementattached to the arm may move with the elevator and be used to move otherportions of the shuffling apparatus. For example, the arm extension maybe used to lift hinged or sliding covers over the cards as the cards areraised above a certain level that exceeds the normal shuffling elevationof the elevator.

FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a top surface 4 of a firstshuffling apparatus 2 according to a practice of the invention. In thisexample of the invention, the shuffling apparatus 2 randomizes one ortwo decks of cards (not shown). The shuffling apparatus 2 has a cardaccepting/receiving area 6 that is preferably provided with a stationarylower support surface that slopes downwardly from a nearest outer side 9of the shuffling apparatus 2. A depression 10 is provided in thatnearest outer side 9 to facilitate an operator's ability to place orremove cards into the card accepting/receiving area 6. The top surface 4of the shuffling apparatus 2 is provided with a visual display 12 (e.g.,LED, liquid crystal, micro monitor, semiconductor display, etc.), and aseries of buttons, touch pads, lights and/or displays 24, 26, 28, and30. These elements on the top surface 4 of the shuffling apparatus 2 mayact to indicate power availability (on/off), shuffler state (jam, activeshuffling, completed shuffling cycle, insufficient numbers of cards,missing cards, sufficient numbers of cards, complete deck(s), damaged ormarked cards, entry functions for the dealer to identify the number ofplayers, the number of cards per hand, access to fixed programming forvarious games, the number of decks being shuffled, card calibrationinformation, and the like), or other information useful to the operatoror casino.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a separation plate 20 with a beveled edge 21 andtwo manual access facilitating recesses 22 that assists an operator inaccessing and removing jammed cards between the card accepting/receivingarea 6 and a shuffled card return area 32. The shuffled card return area32 is shown to be provided with an elevator surface 14 and two separatedcard-supporting sides 34. In a preferred embodiment, sides 34 areremovable. When the shuffling apparatus 2 is flush-mounted into andsurrounded by the top of a gaming table surface, removal of sides 34enables the shuffling apparatus 2 to lift shuffled groups of cards ontothe gaming table surface for immediate use. The card supporting sides 34surround a portion of the elevator surface 14 with interior faces 16 andblocking extensions 18. It is desirable to provide rounded or bevelededges 11 on edges that may come into contact with cards to preventscratching, catching or snagging of cards, or scratching of operators'fingers or hands.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of a first embodiment of a shufflingapparatus 102 according to the present invention. A top surface 104 isshown with a separation plate 120 and side panels 134 (card supportingsides) of a shuffled card return area 132. A card accepting/receivingarea 106 is recessed with respect to the top surface 104 and is shownwith a declining sloping support surface 108. At a front 135 of thesloping support surface 108 is an opening 136 (not able to be seen inthe direct side view) or slot through which a bottom pick-off roller 138may contact a bottom card in an unshuffled set of cards (not shown)within the card accepting/receiving area 106. The bottom pick-off roller138 drives a card in direction 140 by frictional contact towards a firstpair of nip rollers or offset rollers 142. In one example of theinvention, the upper roller of offset rollers 142 is a break roller.This break roller retains the second top card for separation in theevent that two cards are fed at the same time. In a preferred form ofthe invention, the upper roller does not rotate. In another form of theinvention, the upper roller rotates, but is rotationally constrained.

There are two additional pairs of nip rollers or offset rollers 144 and146 acting in concert (or only one of each pair is being driven) to movecards first moved by the first set of nip rollers 142. In a preferredpractice of the present invention, the operation of the apparatus 102may perform in the following manner. When a card (not shown) is movedfrom the unshuffled card accepting/receiving area 106, eventuallyanother card in a stack of cards within the card accepting/receivingarea 106 is exposed. The apparatus 102 is designed, programmed andcontrolled to operate so that individual cards are moved into the firstset of nip rollers or offset rollers 142. If more than one card from thecard accepting/receiving area advances at any given time (even if inpartial sequence, with a portion of one card overlapping another card),it will be more difficult or even impossible for the apparatus to directindividual cards into predetermined positions and shuffle the cardsrandomly.

If two cards are moved at the same time and positioned adjacent to eachother, this uncontrollably decreases the randomness of the shufflingapparatus 102. It is therefore desirable to provide a capabilitywhereby, when a card is moved into the control area of the first set ofnip rollers or offset rollers 142, the drive function of the bottompick-off roller 138 ceases on that card and/or before the bottompick-off roller 138 drives the next card. This can be effected by a widevariety of techniques controlled or directed by a microprocessor,circuit board, programmable intelligence or fixed intelligence withinthe apparatus.

Among the non-limiting examples of these techniques are 1) a sensor sothat when a pre-selected portion of the card (e.g., leading edge,trailing edge, and mark or feature on the card) passes a reading device,such as an optical reader, the bottom pick-off roller 138 is directed todisengage, revolve freely, or withdraw from the bottom of the set ofcards; 2) the first set of nip rollers or offset rollers 142 may have asurface speed that is greater than the surface speed of the bottompick-off roller 138, so that engagement of a card applies tensionagainst the bottom pick-off roller 138 and the roller disengages withfree-rolling gearing, so that no forward-moving (in direction 140)forces are applied to the first card or any other card exposed uponmovement of the first card; 3) a timing sequence so that, upon movementof the bottom pick-off roller 138 for a defined period of time or for adefined amount of rotation (which correlates into a defined distance ofmovement of the first card), the bottom pick-off roller 138 disengages,withdraws, or otherwise stops applying forces against the first card andthereby avoids applying forces against any other cards exposed bymovement of the first card from the card accepting/receiving area 106;and 4) providing a stepped surface (not shown) between bottom pick-offroller 138 and offset rollers 142 that contacts a leading edge of eachcard and will cause a card to be held up or retained in the event thatmore than one card feeds at a time.

The cards are eventually intended to be fed one at a time from final niprollers or offset rollers 146 into the card mixing area 150. The cardsin the card mixing area 150 are supported on elevator platform 156. Theelevator platform 156 moves the stack of cards present in the cardmixing area 150 up and down as a group in proximity with a pair ofseparation elements 154. The pair of separation elements 154 grips anupper portion of cards, and supports those cards while the elevatordrops sufficiently to provide an opening for insertion of a card intothe stack. This movement within the apparatus 102 in the performance ofthe shuffling sequence offers a significant speed advantage in theshuffling operation as compared to U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085, especiallyas the number of cards in the card mixing area 150 increases. Ratherthan having to lower the entire stack of cards to the bottom of the cardreceiving area and reposition the pickers (as required by U.S. Pat. No.5,683,085), the cards in the present apparatus 102 may be dropped by thepickers or the elevator platform 156 needs to move only a slightdistance to recombine the cards supported by the pair of separationelements 154 (e.g., a gripper, and insertion support, fingers, frictionengaging support, rubber fingers, etc.) with the cards supported on theelevator platform 156.

The stationary pair of gripping pads also maintains the alignment of thepads with respect to each other and grips the cards more securely thanthe device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085, reducing or eliminatingthe unintentional dropping of a card or cards that were intended to begripped, rather than lowered. Whenever cards are dropped, the randomnessof the final shuffle may be adversely affected. Although the firstexample of the invention shows a pair of oppositely positioned grippingmembers, it is possible to utilize just one gripper. For example, theopposite vertical support surface could be equipped with a rubber orneoprene strip, increasing frictional contact, allowing only one gripperto suspend groups of cards.

The elevator of a device with stationary grippers may then be moved tothe next directed separation position, which would require, on average,less movement than having to reset the entire deck to the bottom of thecard supporting area and then moving the picker, and then raising thepicker to the card insertion point, as required in U.S. Pat. No.5,683,085.

The microprocessor (not shown) controls and directs the operation of theshuffling apparatus 102. The microprocessor also receives and respondsto information provided to it. For example, a set of sensing devices,such as sensors 152, are used to determine the movement point of theelevator platform 156 that positions the top card in a set of cards (notshown) within the card mixing area 150 at a specific elevation. Thesensors 152 identify when an uppermost card on the elevator platform 156or the top of the elevator platform 156 itself is level with the sensors152. This information is provided to the microprocessor. A readingsystem 170 may also be used to provide information, such as the numberof cards that have been fed from the card accepting/receiving area 106into the card mixing area 150, so that the number of cards shuffled andthe number of cards present on the elevator platform 156 at any giventime is known. This information, such as the number of cards presentwithin the card mixing area 150, is used by the microprocessor, as laterexplained, to randomly arrange and thus shuffle cards according to theprogramming of the system.

For example, the programming may be performed as follows. The number ofcards in a set of cards intended to be used in the system is enteredinto the memory of the microprocessor. Each card in the set of cards isprovided with a specific number that is associated with that particularcard, herein referred to as the “original position number.” This is mostconveniently done by assigning numbers according to positions within theoriginal (unshuffled) set of cards. If cards are fed from the bottom ofthe stack into the randomizing apparatus, cards are assigned numbersfrom the bottom to the top. If cards are fed from the top of the stackor the front of a stack supported along its bottom edges, then the cardsare numbered from top to bottom, or front to rear.

A random number generator (which may be part of the microprocessor, maybe a separate component or may be external to the device) then assigns arandom position number to each card within the original set of cards,the random position number being the randomly determined final positionthat each card will occupy in the randomly associated set of cardsultimately resulting in a shuffled set of cards. The microprocessoridentifies each card by its original position number. This is mosteasily done when the original position number directly corresponds toits actual position in the set, such as the bottommost card being CARD1, the next card being CARD 2, the next card being CARD 3, etc. Themicroprocessor, taking the random position number, then directs theelevator platform 156 to move into position where the card can beproperly inserted into the randomized or shuffled set of cards. Forexample, a set of randomized positions selected by a random numbergenerator for a single deck is provided below. OPN is the OriginalPosition Number and RPN is the Random Position Number.

OPN RPN 1 13 2 6 3 39 4 51 5 2 6 12 7 44 8 40 9 3 10 17 11 25 12 1 13 4914 10 15 21 16 29 17 33 18 11 19 52 20 5 21 18 22 28 23 34 24 9 25 48 2616 27 14 28 31 29 50 30 7 31 46 32 23 33 41 34 19 35 35 36 26 37 42 38 839 43 40 4 41 20 42 47 43 37 44 30 45 24 46 38 47 15 48 36 49 45 50 3251 27 52 22

The sequence of steps in the shuffling or randomizing procedure may bedescribed as follows for the above table of card OPN's and RPN's. OPNCARD 1 is carried from the card accepting/receiving area 106 to thefinal nip rollers or offset rollers 146. The final nip rollers or offsetrollers 146 place CARD 1 onto the top of the elevator platform 156. Theelevator platform 156 has been appropriately positioned by sensors 152.OPN CARD 2 is placed on top of CARD 1, without the need for any grippingor lifting of cards. The microprocessor identifies the RPN position ofCARD 3 as beneath both CARD 1 and CARD 2, so the elevator platform 156lifts the cards to the separation elements 154, which grip both CARD 1and CARD 2, then support those two cards while the elevator platform 156retracts, allowing CARD 3 to be placed between the elevator platform 156and the two supported cards. The two cards (CARD 1 and CARD 2) are thenplaced on top of CARD 3, supported by the elevator platform 156. Thefourth card (CARD 4) is assigned position RPN 51. The elevator platform156 would position the three cards in the pile so that all three cardswould be lifted by the card separation element, and the fourth cardinserted between the three cards (CARD 1, CARD 2 and CARD 3) and theelevator platform 156. The fifth card (CARD 5) has an RPN of 2, so thatthe apparatus 102 merely requires that the four cards be positionedbelow the insertion point from the final nip rollers or offset rollers146 by lowering the elevator platform 156. Positioning of the sixth card(CARD 6) with an RPN of 12 requires that the elevator platform 156 raisethe complete stack of cards, the sensors 152 sense the top of the stackof cards, elevate the stack of cards so that the separation elements 154grip only the top two cards (RPN positions 2 and 6), lower the elevatorplatform 156 slightly, and then CARD 6 with an RPN of 12 can be properlyinserted into an opening in the developing randomized set of cards. Thistype of process is performed until all 52 cards (for a single-deck game)or all 104 cards (for a double-deck game) are randomly distributed intothe final randomized set or shuffled set of cards. The apparatus may bedesigned for groups of cards larger than single 52-card decks, including52-card decks with or without special cards (wild cards or jokers),special decks, two 52-card decks, and two fifty-two card decks plusspecial cards. Larger groupings of cards (e.g., more than 108 cards) mayalso be used, but the apparatus 102 of the first example of theinvention has been shown as optimized for one- or two-deck shuffling.

Elevation of the elevator platform 156 may be effected by any number ofcommercially available systems. Motivation is preferably provided by asystem with a high degree of consistency and control over the movementof the elevator, both in individual moves (e.g., individual steps orpulses) and in collective movement of the elevator (the steps orrevolutions made by the moving system). It is important that theelevator be capable of providing precise and refined movement andrepeated movements that do not exceed one card's thickness. If theminimum degree of movement of the elevator exceeds one card's thickness,then precise positioning could not be effected. It is preferred that thedegree of control of movement of the elevator does not exceed at leastone-half the card thickness. In this manner, precise positioning of thecards with respect to the separation elements 154 can be effected.Additionally, it is often desirable to standardize, adjust, or calibratethe position of the elevator (and/or cards on the elevator) at leastonce, and often at intervals, to ensure proper operation of theapparatus 102. In one example of the invention, the microprocessor callsfor recalibration periodically, and provides the dealer with a warningor calibration instructions on the display 12 (FIG. 1).

As later described, a microstepping motor or other motor capable ofprecise, small, and controlled movements is preferred. The steps, forexample, may be of such magnitudes that are smaller than a card'sthickness, such as for example, individual steps of 0.0082 inch(approximately less than thickness of one card), 0.0041 inch (less thanone-half of a card's thickness), 0.00206 inch (less than aboutone-quarter of a card's thickness), 0.0010 inch (less than aboutone-eighth of a card's thickness), 0.00050 inch (less than aboutone-sixteenth of a card's thickness), 0.00025 inch (less than aboutone-thirty-second of a thickness), 0.000125 inch (less than aboutone-sixty-fourth of a card's thickness), etc.

Particularly desirable elevator control mechanisms would be servosystems or stepper motors and geared or treaded drive belts (essentiallymore like digital systems). Stepper motors, such as microstepper motors,are commercially available that can provide, or can be readily adjustedto provide, incremental movements that are equal to or less than onecard's thickness, including whole fractions of card thicknesses andindefinite percentages of card thicknesses. Exact correspondence betweensteps and card thickness is not essential, especially where the stepsare quite small compared to the card thickness. For example, with a cardthickness of about 0.279 mm, the steps may be 0.2 mm, 0.15 mm, 0.1 mm,0.08 mm, 0.075 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.01 mm, 0.001 mm or smaller, andmost values therebetween. It is most desirable to have smaller values,as some values, such as the 0.17 mm value of a step, can cause thegripper in the separation element to extend over both a target positionto be separated and the next lower card in the stack to be gripped, withno intermediate stepping position being available. This is within thecontrol of the designer once the fundamentals of the process have beenunderstood according to the present description of the practice of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 2, a drive belt 164 is attached to two driverollers 166 which move the elevator platform 156. The belt 164 is drivenby a stepper motor system 171 that is capable of 0.00129-inch (0.003-mm)steps.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective cutaway of the sets of nip rollers or offsetrollers 142, 144 and 146 of a first example of the invention. These arenot truly sets of nip rollers, but are offset rollers, so that rollers142 a and 142 b (not shown), 144 a and 144 b, 146 a and 146 b are notprecisely linearly oriented. By selecting a nip width that is not sotight as to press a card from both sides of the card at a singleposition, and by selecting offset rollers rather than aligned niprollers, fluid movement of the card, reduced damage to the card, andreduced jamming may be provided. This is a particularly desirable aspectof a preferred practice of the present invention, which is shown also inFIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a set of offset rollers 144 a, 144 b, 144 c, 144 d and 144e transporting a card 200. The card 200 is shown passing over rollers144 a and 144 d and under rollers 144 b, 144 c and 144 e. As can beseen, the rollers are not capable of contacting a card to preciselyoverlap at a specific point on opposite sides of a card.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a grippingsystem 204 that may be used in the practice of the invention. FIG. 5shows two oppositely spaced support arms 206 and 208 that supportgripping elements 210 and 212, which comprise semi-rigid gripping pads214 and 216. These gripping pads 214 and 216 may be smooth, grooved,covered with high-friction material (e.g., rubber or neoprene), ribbed,straight, sloped, or the like, to take advantage of various physicalproperties and actions. The support arms 206 and 208 are attached toseparately movable positioning arms 218 and 220. These positioning arms218 and 220 are referred to as separately movable, in that they are notphysically connected, but one tends to move from left to right while theother moves right to left (with respect to the view shown in FIG. 5) asthe two positioning arms 218 and 220 move in and out (substantiallyhorizontally) to grip or release the cards. However, preferably they donot move independently, but should move in concert. It is also desirablethat they are fixed with respect to the vertical. If the positioningarms moved completely independently (horizontally, during gripping),with only one at a tune moving to attempt to contact the cards, thefirst contacting arm could move cards out of vertical alignment. Forthis reason, it is preferred that two opposed gripping arms be used.

Although the positioning arms 218 and 220 may not move the contact pads214 and 216 into contact with absolute precision, they should contactopposite edges of the cards at approximately the same time, withoutmoving any card more than 5% of the length of a card (if contactedlengthwise) or 7% of the width of the card (if contacting the cardswidthwise). An example of one mechanism for moving the positioning armsin concert is by having a drive belt 226 that engages opposite sides oftwo connectors 222 and 224 that are attached to positioning arms 220 and218, respectively. The belt 226 contacts these connectors 222 and 224 onopposite sides, such as by contacting a rear side of connector 224, andby contacting a front side of connector 222. As the belt 226 is drivenby rotors 228 and 230, with both rotors 228 and 230 turning in direction232, connector 222 will be moved from left to right, and connector 224will be moved from right to left. This will likewise move gripping pads214 and 216 inwardly to grip cards. The use of such pads is muchpreferred over the use of rigid, pointed, spatula elements to separatecards, as these can damage cards, which not only can increase the needfor replacement, but can also mark cards, which could reduce security.

Alternative constructions comprise a flat elastic or a rubbery surfacewith knobs or nubs that extend upwardly from the surface to grab cardswhen pressed into contact with the sides of the cards. These elementsmay be permanently affixed to the surfaces of the pickers or may beindividually removable and replaceable. The knobs and the flat surfacemay be made of the same or different materials, and may be made ofrelatively harder or softer, relatively rigid or relatively flexiblematerials according to design parameters.

The apparatus may also contain additional features, such as card readingsensor(s) (e.g., an optical sensor, a neural sensing network, a videoimaging apparatus, a barcode reader, etc.), to identify suits and ranksof cards; feed means for feeding cards sequentially past the sensor(s)at various points within the apparatus; storing areas in which the cardsare stored in a desired order or random order; selectively programmableartificial intelligence coupled to the sensor(s) and to the storingareas to assemble in the storing areas groups of articles in a desiredorder; delivery systems for selectively delivering the individualarticles into the storing areas; and collector areas for collectingcollated or randomized subgroups of cards.

The sensor(s) may include the ability to identify the presence of anarticle in particular areas, the movement or lack of movement inparticular areas, the rank and/or value of a card, spurious orcounterfeit cards, and marked cards. This can be suitably effected byproviding the sensor with the capability of identifying one or morephysical attributes of an article. This includes the sensor having themeans to identify indicia on a surface of an article. The desired ordermay be a specific order of one or more decks of cards to be sorted intoits original pack order or other specific order, or it may be a randomorder into which a complete set of articles is delivered from aplurality of sets of randomly arranged articles. For example, thespecific order may be effected by feeding cards into the card acceptingarea with a sensor identifying the suit and rank, and having apre-established program to assign cards, based upon their rank and suit,into particular distributions onto the elevator platform. For example, acasino may wish to arrange the cards into pack order at the end of ashift to verify all cards are present, or may want to deal cards out ina tournament in a specified random order. The sensing can take place inthe card receiving area when the cards are stationary, or while thecards are in motion.

The suit, rank and position of all cards in the card accepting/receivingarea will then be known, and the program can be applied to the cardswithout the use of a random number generator, but with themicroprocessor identifying the required position for that card ofparticular suit and rank. The card may also be read between the offsetrollers or between the last offset roller and the platform, althoughthis last system will be relatively slow, as the information as to thecard content will be known at such a late time that the platform cannotbe appropriately moved until the information is obtained.

For example, the desired order may be a complete pack of randomlyarranged playing cards sorted from holding means which holds multipledecks, or a plurality of randomly oriented cards forming a plurality ofpacks of cards. This may be achieved by identifying the individual cardsby optical readers, scanners or any other means, and then, under controlof a computer means such as a microprocessor, placing an identified cardinto a specific collector means to ensure delivery of complete decks ofcards in the desired compartment. The random number generator is used toplace individual cards into random positions to ensure random deliveryof one to eight or more decks of cards, depending on the size of thedevice.

In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus is adapted to provide oneor more shuffled packs of cards, such as one or two decks for pokergames or blackjack. According to another aspect of the invention, amethod of randomizing a smaller or larger group of cards is accomplishedusing the device of the present invention. According to the invention,the method includes the steps of: 1) placing a group of cards to berandomized into a card in-feed tray; 2) removing cards individually fromthe card in-feed tray and delivering the cards into a card collectionarea, the card collection area having a movable lower surface and astationary opening for receiving cards from the in-feed tray; 3)elevating the movable lower surface to a randomly determined height; 4)grasping at least one edge of a group of cards in the card collectionarea at a point just above the stationary opening; 5) lowering themovable lower surface to create an opening in a stack of cards formed onthe lower surface, the opening located just beneath a lowermost pointwhere the cards are grasped; and 6) inserting a card removed from thein-feed tray into the opening. According to the method of the presentinvention, steps 2 through 6 are repeated until all of the cardsoriginally present in the in-feed tray are processed, forming arandomized group of cards.

As described above, the method and apparatus of the present inventioncan be used to randomize groups of cards, as well as sort cards into aparticular desired order. When sensing equipment is used to detect rankand suit of the cards, the cards can be arranged in any predeterminedorder according to the invention. It is to be understood that numerousvariations of the present invention are contemplated, and the disclosureis not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the examplesdescribed above. For example, it might be advantageous to tip the cardmixing area 150 (FIG. 2) slightly, such that a top portion is fartheraway from the card accepting/receiving area 106 than a bottom portion.This would assist in aligning the stack vertically in card mixing area150 and would increase the efficiency and accuracy of the randomizationor ordering process. In one preferred embodiment, the card mixing area150 is tipped between 3 degrees and 8 degrees from the vertical.

In another embodiment of the invention, the shuffler is mounted into agaming table such that in-feed tray or card accepting/receiving area 106is recessed beneath the top surface of the gaming table, and a lowerhorizontal surface of the elevator platform 156 in the delivery area orshuffled card return area 132 in its upright position is flush with theelevation of the gaming table surface.

Although the machine can sit on the tabletop, it is preferably mountedon a bracket having a support surface located beneath the gaming tablesurface, and is completely surrounded by the table top, enabling adealer to obtain and return cards without undue lifting above thesurface of the gaming table. In one embodiment, the entire shuffler ismounted into the gaming table such that the in-feed tray and card returnareas are either flush or approximately flush with the gaming tablesurface. Such an arrangement would be particularly suited for use inconventional poker rooms.

In a second example of the invention, the device is configured toprocess larger groups of cards, such as a stack of eight complete decks.The individual components operate in much the same manner, but thespecific configuration is designed to accommodate the greater height ofthe stack.

FIG. 6 shows a vertical perspective view of another apparatus 500according to the invention. The apparatus 500 is shown with a flip-upcover 502 with sections 504 and 506 that overlie an elevator platform512 and a card insertion area 510. An extension or tab 507 is providedto nest into open area 508 to assist lifting of the flip-up cover 502when needed. The open area 508 leaves some additional space for a fingeror tool to be inserted against the extension 507 to assist in itslifting. That additional space may be designed to accommodate only atool so as to reduce any possibility of a player opening the shufflingapparatus 500. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided an arm extension 514 of the elevator platform 512 that contactsan internal edge 513 of the flip-up cover 502, here with a roller 515shown as the contact element, to lift the flip-up cover 502 when theelevator platform 512 rises to a level where cards are to be removed,the extension 514 forcing the flip-up cover 502 to lift from a topsurface 517 of the apparatus 500. The extension 514 also will bufferplaying cards from moving as they are lifted from the elevator platform512, although additional elements (not shown) may be used to restrainmovement of the cards when elevated to a removal level. In this exampleof the invention, side panels are not used to stabilize the stack ofdelivered cards.

FIG. 6 also shows a display panel 516, which may be any format of visualdisplay, particularly those such as LED panels, liquid crystal panels,CRT displays, plasma displays, digital or analog displays, dot-matrixdisplays, multi-segment displays, fixed-panel multiple-light displays,or the like, to provide information to a viewer (e.g., dealer, casinopersonnel, etc.). The display panel 516 may show any information usefulto users of the apparatus 500, and show such information in sufficientdetail as to enable transfer of significant amounts of information. Suchinformation might include, by way of non-limiting examples, the numberof cards present in the apparatus, the status of any shuffling ordealing operations (e.g., the number of complete shuffling cycles), handinformation (such as the number of hands to be dealt, the number ofhands that have been dealt, the number of cards in each hand, theposition to which a hand has been dealt, etc.), security information(e.g., card jam identification, location of card jams, location of stuckcards, excess cards in the container, insufficient cards in thecontainer, unauthorized entry into the apparatus, etc.), confirmationinformation (e.g., indicating that the apparatus is properlycorresponding to an information-receiving facility, such as a network ormicroprocessor at a distal or proximal location), on/off status,self-check status, and any other information about play or the operationof the apparatus that would be useful. It is preferred that the displaypanel 516 and the software driving the display panel 516 be capable ofgraphics display, not merely alphanumeric.

Buttons 518 and 520 can be on/off buttons, special function buttons(e.g., raise elevator to the card delivery position, operate jamsequence, reshuffle demand, security check, card count demand, etc.),and the like. A sensor 524 (e.g., optical sensor, pressure sensor,magnetic detector, sonar detector, etc.) is shown on the elevatorplatform 512 to detect the presence of cards or other objects on theelevator platform 512.

FIG. 7 is a side cutaway view of an apparatus 600 according to an aspectof the invention, which may be compared with FIG. 2 to provide anexplanation of components and some of the variations possible within thepractice of the invention. For example, the use of two belt drive motors662 and 664 versus the three shown in FIG. 2 allows for the apparatus600 to be shortened, with motor 662 driving a belt 666 that moves threerollers 668, 669 and 670. The pair of rollers 144 is removed from thisexample of the invention as superfluous. The two drive rollers 166 inFIG. 2 that raise the elevator platform 156 are partially eliminated byhaving an elevator drive belt 672 driven by a motor 674 and an attachedspindle 676, which have been positioned in direct alignment with thedrive belt 672 in FIG. 7, instead of the right-angle, double-beltconnection shown in FIG. 2. Again, as the drive belt 672 moves farenough to display cards (not shown) on an elevator platform 612, anextension 614 presses against an edge 613 of a cover section 604,elevating a cover top 602. The apparatus 600 is preferably configuredwith sections 604 and 606 separated along area 680 so that they moveindependently. By separating these sections 604 and 606, only the cardsreadied for delivery are exposed, and access to area 682 whereunshuffled cards are to be inserted is more restricted, especiallywhere, as noted above, a tool or implement is needed to raise the coversection corresponding to 606 so that the unshuffled cards may not be tooreadily accessed.

In FIG. 7, the motors 662, 664 and 674 are preferably highly controlledin the degree of their movement. For example, one of the methods ofproviding precise control of motor movement is with microstepped motors.Such micro stepping of motors controls the precise amount of movementcaused by the motor. This is especially important in motor 674 thatdrives the elevator platform 612 that in turn carries the cards (notshown) to be separated for random card insertion. With microstepping,the movement of the cards can be readily controlled to less than acard's thickness per microstep. With such control, with movements permicrostep of no more than 0.9 a card's thickness, preferably less than0.8 a card's thickness, less than 0.5 a card's thickness, less than 0.4a card's thickness, less than ⅓ a card's thickness, less than 0.25 acard's thickness, less than 0.20 a card's thickness, and even less than0.05 a card's thickness, much greater assurance of exact positioning ofthe elevator platform 612 and the cards thereon can be provided, furtherensuring that cards will be inserted exactly where requested byoperation of the microprocessor. Sensing elements 684 may be positionedwithin a picker or grabbing element 686 to analyze the position of thepicker 686 with respect to cards being separated to determine if cardshave been properly aligned with the picker 686 and properly separated.The picker 686 may alternatively be physically protruding sub-elementsthat grab small areas of cards, such as rubber or elastomeric bumps,plastic bumps, metal nubs, or the like. Sensors may alternatively beplaced on other surfaces adjacent the picker 686, such as walls 688 or690 or other adjacent walls or elements. For increased security andenhanced performance, it is preferred that multiple sensors be used,preferably multiple sensors that are spaced apart with regard to edgesof the cards, and multiple sensors (i.e., at least two sensors) that arepositioned so that not only the height can be sensed, but alsomisalignment or sloping, or bending of cards at different locations orpositions. The sensors can work independently of or in tandem with themicroprocessor/step motor/encoder operation.

The microstep motors will also assist the apparatus in internal checksfor the correct position. For example, an encoder can be used to checkthe exact position of the elevator with regard to the measured movementand calculation of the precise movement of the elevator platform andhence the cards. The encoder can evaluate the position of the elevatorplatform through analysis and evaluation of information regarding, forexample, the number of pulses per revolution of the spindle 676 on themotor 674, which may be greater than 100 pulses per revolution, greaterthan 250 pulses per revolution, greater than 360 pulses per revolution,greater than 500 pulses per revolution or greater than 750 pulses perrevolution, and, in preferred embodiments, greater than 1000 pulses perrevolution, greater than 1200 pulses per revolution, and equal to orgreater than 1440 pulses per revolution. In operation, themicroprocessor moves the motor, the encoder counts the amount ofmovement driven by the motor, and then determines the actual position ofthe elevator platform or a space (e.g., four cards higher) relative tothe elevator platform. The sensors may or may not be used to determinethe correct position, initially calibrate movement and sensing positionson the platform, or as a security check.

An additional design improvement with respect to the apparatus 102 ofFIG. 2 and that of the apparatus 500 and 600 of FIGS. 6 and 7,respectively, is the elimination of a staging area in the apparatusdesign of FIG. 2. After a card (not shown) in FIG. 2 passes from rollers142 to rollers 144, but before being passed to rollers 146, the cardwould be held, or staged, by rollers 144. This can be eliminated by thedesign of rollers 668, 669, and 670 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with themovement of the cards timed to the movement of the elevator platform 612and the separation of the cards by the pickers 686.

The apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 6 is also provided with an outer flange528 extending around an upper edge 530 of the top surface 517 of theapparatus 500 that may be used to attach and support the apparatus 500to a table or to support the apparatus 500 so that the top surface 517is relatively parallel to the surface of the table.

The use of a shuffler whose shuffling mechanism is concealed completelybeneath the gaming table surface potentially poses security issues to acasino. In the event of a system malfunction, the dealer might not beaware that a shuffling sequence has failed. Since there is no way tovisualize the shuffling routine, and in order to avoid instances wherethe display lights may malfunction and erroneously show a shufflingsequence has been completed, an added level of security has beenprovided to the shuffler of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a number of cards to be randomizedand the order of insertion of each card into the card randomizing orshuffling compartment is predetermined by the random number generatorand microprocessor. By adding an encoder to the motor or motors drivingthe elevator, and by sensing the presence of groups of suspended cards,the MPU can compare the data representing the commands and the resultingmovements to verify a shuffle has occurred. In the absence of thisverification, the shuffler can send a signal to the display to indicatea misdeal, to a central pit computer to notify management of themisdeal, to a game table computer (if any) with an output display tonotify the dealer of a misdeal, to a central computer that notifiessecurity, to a central system for initiating maintenance calls, or tocombinations of the above.

Such a system is referred to as a “closed loop” system because the MPUcreates the commands and then receives system signals verifying that thecommands were properly executed.

Although the dealer control panel and display in the above examples ofthe present invention are located on the card shuffler, the presentinvention contemplates user-operated remote controls, such as a footpedal, an infra-red remote control, the input of commands from a remotekeyboard in the pit, or other device initiated by a dealer or bymanagement. Unlike the shuffler operation driven by software from a gamecomputer, pit computer or central computer system, the shuffler of thepresent invention is controllable by an operator using remote equipmentsuch as what is described above.

Although the randomizing system has been described as a verticallydisposed stack of cards with a means for gripping a portion of thecards, and lowering the remaining cards to form two separate subgroups,forming an insertion point, the invention contemplates the use of ashuffler with a carousel-type card collection area. The gripping pads inthis example of the invention grip a portion of cards that arehorizontally disposed, and the card collection area rotated to create aninsertion point for the next card. The cards are pushed out one at atime, or in groups to a card collection area.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a perspective view of a shuffling machine 700of the present invention is shown mounted to a shuffler support plate702 behind a gaming table (not shown) that may or may not be modified toaccommodate placement of the support plate 702.

In this example of the invention, cards are loaded into an in-feed tray706. In one example of the invention (not shown), the lower surface ofthe in-feed tray 706 is substantially horizontal and is provided so thatcards can be loaded into a top surface 708 of the shuffling machine 700,and then lowered beneath the gaming table surface for randomization.

The in-feed tray 706 may be equipped with a card support structuresimilar to the vertical support structure 712 surrounding delivery tray710, which in a preferred embodiment has two vertical supports and twosides left open. Cards may be loaded into the in-feed tray 706 and intoa card support structure (not shown), and lowered automatically inresponse to the dealer pushing downwardly on the top of the stack ofcards or upon a signal received from the dealer controls (not shown).

In this example of the invention, the loading station is positioned nearthe playing surface (for example, a casino table) and at the dealer'sside, allowing the machine to be used without unnecessary strain orunusual physical movement on the part of the dealer. Loading andunloading large stacks of cards from the top of a machine that ismounted to eliminate lifting, straining or reaching large distancesaddresses a need long felt in the industry for a more ergonomicallyfriendly card shuffler.

The delivery tray 710 in the second described embodiment also includes atwo-sided vertical support structure 712 for supporting a group ofrandomized cards as the cards are raised to the top surface 708 of theshuffling machine 700. It is to be understood that the vertical supportstructures 712 are preferably secured to the delivery tray 710, butcould also be secured to the frame, and attached in a manner to pop upinto position when needed.

A method of handling cards is described, including inserting the cardsinto a card in-feed tray, feeding the cards into a card randomizationapparatus, capturing the randomized cards in a support structure andraising the cards and support structure to an upper surface of theshuffler. The method may comprise providing a retractable supportstructure for extracting shuffled cards, inserting shuffled cards intothe support structure while it is below the top surface of the device,moving the support structure to expose the cards and retracting thesupport structure both before and after card removal. The card in-feedtray may also be positioned on an elevator capable of lowering the groupof cards into the apparatus prior to shuffling. When a second elevatoris used, it is preferable to provide a retractable support structure forsupporting the cards as the cards are lowered for shuffling.

The method preferably includes providing two separate support structuresthat support a vertically stacked group of cards on at least twosurfaces, and preferably three. The support structure can be a solidthree-sided box, could consist of three vertically disposed bars, twoparallel plates and two angle irons to retain corners, any otherstructure that keeps the stack in vertical alignment, or any othersuitable support structure. The structure can be fixed to the uppersurface of the shuffler, can be fixed to the elevators or can be affixedto the frame of the shuffler and constructed to “pop up” when needed forcard loading and unloading. Cover plates, such as hinged or rotatingplates, can be provided over the two elevators to provide additionalcover (e.g., dust cover and visual cover) over the card source and thecard collection areas to ensure that visual inspection of the shufflingprocedure can be reduced, and entry of foreign materials can be reduced.The cover plates should be light enough for the system to automaticallylift the covers or for a dealer to easily lift the covers manually. Thecards themselves may push up the cover plates, or a preceding post orelement can be positioned on the elevator or supports attached or movingconjointly with the elevators to press against the interior surface ofthe cover plates to lift the plates in advance of contact with thecards.

The card reading capability, as described in greater technical detaillater, can be used in a different number of modes and positions to getthe benefits of the present invention. The card reading capability (bysome visual data-taking element, such as a camera, scanner, reflectionscanner, image bit recorder, image edge detector, or any othersubcomponent that can image a card or convert a visual image of the cardinto reproducible data) can be located at various positions within theshuffler where it can be assured of imaging each card before it isremoved from the shuffler. This preferably is being done in the presentinvention internally in a shuffling machine where cards are not removedone at a time from a dealing end or fed as hands or groups of cards (butless than the entire set of cards) to be removed in a subgroup of theentire set of cards placed into the shuffler. In one example of theinvention, a video camera is used as a rank/suit scanner

A desirable set of image capture devices (e.g., a CCD automatic camera)and sensors (e.g., light-emitting devices and light capture devices)will be described, although a wide variety of commercial technologiesand commercial components are available. A preferred camera is theDRAGONFLY® automatic camera, provided by Point Grey Research, Inc., andincludes a six-pin IEEE-1394 interface, asynchronous trigger, multipleframe rates, 640×480 or 1024×724 24-bit true color or 8-bit grayscaleimages, image acquisition software and plug-and-play capability. Thiscan be combined with commercially available symbol recognition software.The commercially available image recognition software is trained on cardsymbols and taught to report image patterns as specific card suits andranks. Once a standard card suit/rank recognition program has beendeveloped, the training from one format of cards to another becomes moresimply effected and can be done at the casino table or by a securityteam before the shuffler is placed on the table. Position sensors can beprovided and enhanced by one of ordinary skill in the art fromcommercially available components that can be fitted by one ordinarilyskilled in the art. For example, various optics, such as SICK® WT2S-N111or WL2S-E111, OMRON® EE SPY302, or OPTEK® OP506A, may be used. A usefulencoder can be purchased as US Digital encoder 24-300-B. An opticalresponse switch can be provided as MicroSwitch SS541A.

The benefits of the present system may be used in those less preferredshuffling devices, including continuous shufflers, especially where thecontinuous shufflers monitor the position of cards in the shuffled setfrom which cards are removed for play of a game, so that a constantinventory of the number, suit, rank and position of each and all cardscan be maintained. Numerous types of image data-taking devices or imagecapture devices that can provide the image data necessary to “read” thesymbols on the card sufficiently so as to distinguish individual card'srank at least by rank and preferably by rank and suit (and any otherspecial markings that may be present on cards for special games) areavailable or are readily within the skill of the artisan to beconstructed. Such image capture devices may be continuous (rapidframe-by-frame) video cameras, digital cameras, analog cameras,reader/scanners, edge response detectors, reflectance readers, and thelike, and may optionally have lighting elements (for example, filamentlighting, light-emitting diodes, lamps, electromagnetic spectrumemitters of any type, and the like) present to improve the lightingduring image capture. The cards can be read during the randomizationprocedure either when the cards are stationary or in motion, without anyspecial stop positions or delays in the movement of cards. The cards areread in such a manner that the rank and suit of each card in a completeset of cards (e.g., all of the cards within the device) are identifiedin a randomized set by position of each card and the rank and suit ofeach card in each position. It is also important to note that, in ashuffling mode, the final set of cards is a randomized set of cards andnot merely a collection of cards in a slightly different order from anoriginal set of cards (e.g., previously played, unshuffled, hand-mixed,or the like). In another mode, cards are passed through the scannerwithout being shuffled for the purpose of rapidly verifying the contentof the deck. One possible way of distinguishing a randomized deck ofcards from a merely mixed deck or programmed collection of cards wouldbe to use a statistical analysis program, or using another criteria,such as where fewer than 100% of the cards in a final set of at least 52cards are not within ten cards' distance from adjacent cards within anoriginal set.

As a general statement, the card reading capability should be directedtowards a face of the cards so that edge reading (which requiresspecially marked cards) is not practiced or required. To do this, thecamera or other image data-taking element should view at least asymbol-marked corner of a card. This is not a problem, as standard cardshave their symbols (or suit and rank) in opposite corners so thatrotating a card will leave the symbol in the same corner position forviewing. Given this background, the image data-taking component(hereinafter, an “IDC,” or alternatively referred to as an image capturedevice) could be located as follows. If there is a feeding mechanismthat moves individual cards from a deck or set of initial cards (usuallyunshuffled or previously used in a non-intended order) into apreliminary position before shuffling, the IDC could be located belowthe insertion area of the cards so that the bottom card is read beforeremoval and after each bottom card is read, the next bottom card isexposed to the IDC and is read. If top cards are removed one at a time,then each top card as it is moved would be read from below by an IDC.This is less preferred as the IDC would be probably be maximallydistanced from each card as it is read because of the height of the setof cards. The set of cards could be elevated to fix the IDC at anintermediate height to lessen this problem, but increased distancebetween the IDC and the cards would require better and more expensiveoptics and software.

If the set of cards is placed on a support and cards are removed one ata time from the bottom (preferably) or the top of the set of cards andmoved directly into a shuffling operation (rather than stored, collectedor buffered at this point), then the camera may be either directly belowa transparent support (or exposed through a hole in the support) or at aposition outside of a dimension of the set of cards (e.g., if in avertical stack that forms a box-like structure, outside of the area ofthe bottom of the box), such as at an opening between an initial cardsupport area and away from pick-off rollers or other first card movingelements within that area of the bottom, before a first set of rollersthat exerts control over the card from the first card moving elements(e.g., braking rollers, speed-up rollers, nip rollers with any function,vacuum support movers, etc.), or after the first set of rollers exertscontrol over the card from the first card moving elements. The firstcard moving elements and all other card moving elements (except whereotherwise specified) shall be discussed as rollers (usually nip rollers,although the pick-off rollers are not a set of nip rollers), such aspick-off rollers, for simplicity, it being understood that other cardmoving systems (e.g., plunger, pushing plates, etc.) may be used.

The card value (e.g., suit and/or rank) may be read after the first setof pick-off rollers, after the first set of nip rollers past thepick-off rollers, after a third set of rollers that exerts some controlon the movement of cards after the first set of nip rollers, such aswhen (in a preferred embodiment of the invention) cards are individuallymoved from a set of rollers to be inserted into a space betweensubgroups of cards in a forming stack of shuffled/randomized cards. Inthose positions, with the cards moving face down within the shufflingdevice, the face of the cards can be readily observed by an IDC and animage taken.

Looking at FIG. 9, a shuffling/randomizing device 800 is shown with aninitial card set receiving area 802. A set of pick-off rollers 804 and806 are shown. The pick-off rollers (shown as two rollers 804 and 806,but one, two, three or more linearly aligned or arrayed rollers can beused) move a card (not shown) from the bottom of a set of cards (notshown) placed into the initial card set receiving area 802 and throughan access hole or slot 810 to a position where a second set of rollers808 exert some control over the card exiting from the slot 810. As thecard is moved past rollers 808 (which may be called braking rollers forconvenience, speed-up rollers, or any other term used in the jargon ofthe art), the face of the card with symbols thereon (not shown) isbrought into focal area 816 where a camera 814 (or other IDC) may recordthe image of the face of the card. The card, at this time orsubsequently, also has control exerted upon it by a next set of niprollers 812, usually referred to as speed-up rollers, as they maysometimes desirably be used with linear surface speeds slightly greaterthan the linear surface speed of the rollers 808. Certain of theindividual rollers in roller pairs may be brake rollers, free-turningrollers, or even stationary (not rotating) rollers to provide optionalphysical effects on the movement of and tension on cards. The rollers812 move the card (not shown) into an insertion space 818, which will bein an opening created between subgroups of cards (not shown) withinelevator space 830. The shuffling operation itself will be explained ingreater detail later herein.

As noted elsewhere, the IDC may operate in a continuous “on” mode (lesspreferred, primarily because of the volume of data that is produced, butthe use of data screening or filtering software that concentrates onsymbol imagery, as by only including data following light background todark background changes, may be used) or in a single screen-shot modethat is timed to the proper positioning of the symbol on the card in thefocal area of the camera. Looking again at FIG. 9, the single screenshot can be seen and accomplished in a number of different ways. Thetime in which the various rollers 804, 806, 808 and 812 move the cardfrom the initial card set receiving area 802 into the camera focal area816 is quite consistent, so a triggering mechanism can be used to setoff the camera 814 at an appropriate time when the card face is expectedto be in the camera focal area 816. Such triggers can include one ormore of the following, such as optical position sensors 820 and 822within the initial card set receiving area 802, an optical sensor 824, anip pressure sensor (not specifically shown, but which could be withineither nip roller 808), and the like. When one of these triggers isactivated, the camera 814 is instructed to time its shot to the timewhen the symbol-containing corner of the card is expected to bepositioned within the camera focal area 816. The card may be moving atthis time and does not have to be stopped. The card may be stopped ifdesired or if time is needed for supported cards 832 to be moved toallow insertion of a card into the insertion space 818 between subgroupsof cards. The underlying function is to have some triggering in theshuffling/randomizing device 800 that will indicate with a sufficientdegree of certainty when the symbol portion of a moving or moved cardwill be within the camera focal area 816.

FIG. 10 shows a top cutaway view of a shuffler 900 with card readingcamera 916 therein. The various elements are shown in a different view,such as pick-off rollers 904 and 906 within an initial card setreceiving area 902. Sensor 920 is shown in FIG. 9 as a card set sensor920 that indicates that there are still cards in the initial card setreceiving area 902. Sensor 928 is in a more favorable card sensingposition to act as a trigger for the camera 916. A set of sensors 922and 926 operate as card position sensors to check for jamming,clearance, alignment, and in-feed availability (into an elevator area930). Sensors 938 and 926 may also act to assure that a card to be fedinto the elevator area 930 is properly positioned and available to beinserted by insert rollers 912.

A desirable set of image capture devices (e.g., a CCD automatic camera)and sensors (e.g., light-emitting devices and light capture devices)will be described, although a wide variety of commercial technologiesand commercial components are available. A preferred camera is theDRAGONFLY® automatic camera provided by Point Grey Research, Inc., andincludes a six-pin IEEE-1394 interface, asynchronous trigger, multipleframe rates, 640×480 or 1024×724 24-bit true color or 8-bit grayscaleimages, image acquisition software and plug-and-play capability. Thiscan be combined with commercially available symbol recognition software.The commercially available image recognition software is trained on cardsymbols and taught to report image patterns as specific card suits andranks. Once a standard card suit/rank recognition program has beendeveloped, the training from one format of cards to another becomes moresimply effected and can be done at the casino table or by a securityteam before the shuffling apparatus 2 is placed on the table. Positionsensors (e.g., sensors 32 and 34) of FIG. 1 can be provided and enhancedby one of ordinary skill in the art from commercially availablecomponents that can be fitted by one ordinarily skilled in the art. Forexample, various optics, such as SICK® WT2S-N111 or WL2S-E111, OMRON® EESPY302, or OPTEK® OP506A, may be used. A useful encoder can be purchasedas US Digital encoder 24-300-B. An optical response switch can beprovided as MicroSwitch SS541A.

Once the symbol has been imaged, a signal is sent to a central processorwhere the information of the suit and rank of the individual cards isprocessed according to the objectives of the system. After each card hasbeen read, the individual cards are moved by rollers to be deposited ina card collection area. Cards are delivered into the card collectionarea by being placed on a support tray. The trigger may also activate alight that is used in conjunction with the image capture device toimprove image capture capability.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a device for forming arandom set of playing cards. The device may comprise:

-   -   a top surface and a bottom surface of the device;    -   a single card receiving area for receiving an initial set of        playing cards;    -   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of an initial set        of playing cards;    -   a single card collection surface in a card collection area for        receiving randomized playing cards one at a time into the single        card collection area to form a single randomized set of playing        cards, the single card collection surface receiving cards so        that all playing cards from the initial set of playing cards are        received below the top surface of the device;    -   an image capture device that reads the rank and suit of each        card after it has begun leaving the single card receiving area        and before being received on the single card collection surface;        and    -   access for removal of a single randomized set of playing cards        as a complete set.

The access allows the complete set of randomized cards to be removed asa batch from the randomization device, rather than feeding the cards oneat a time to a delivery end (e.g., shoe end) of the device. This canallow the device to be more compact and allow the device to operateindependent of card delivery and in a batch manner as opposed to acontinuous shuffler manner.

All of the apparatus, devices and methods disclosed and claimed hereincan be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the apparatus, devices and methods of thisinvention have been described in terms of both generic descriptions andpreferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat variations may be applied to the apparatus, devices and methodsdescribed herein without departing from the concept and scope of theinvention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain elements,components, steps, and sequences that are functionally related to thepreferred embodiments may be substituted for the elements, components,steps, and sequences described and/or claimed herein while the same orsimilar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutions andmodifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to bewithin the scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

The unique combination of the accurate imaging reading capability of thepresent system and the specific positioning capability and recording(indexing) of specific cards whose value (rank and suit) can bespecifically identified and associated with a specific position with thefinal randomized set of cards, provides excellent security to casinosand players. As the card sequences in the shuffled set of final cardscan be exactly known, this information can be used along with othersecurity devices, such as table card reading cameras, discard trays withcard reading capability, and the like, to add a high degree of certaintythat a fair and honest game is being played at a specific location.Special bonus hands in games such as LET IT RIDE® poker, THREE CARDPOKER® game, CRAZY 4 POKER™, and the like, can be immediately verifiedby a central computer or the shuffler itself by indicating that aspecific value or rank of hand was properly dealt to a specific positionon the table. Present-day security may sometimes have to hand verify anentire deck or set of cards, which can take five to ten minutes of tabledowntime. This is distracting to players and is an economic loss to thecasino.

Although a description of preferred embodiments has been presented,various changes, including those mentioned above, could be made withoutdeviating from the spirit of the present invention. It is desired,therefore, that reference be made to the appended claims rather than tothe foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic playing card shuffler comprising: ahousing configured to be utilized at a gaming table, the housingcomprising a playing card receiver positioned at a playing surface ofthe gaming table, the playing card receiver for receiving a group ofplaying cards to be shuffled from a location proximate the playingsurface of the gaming table; a randomizing system configured torandomize the order of the group of playing cards to provide randomizedplaying cards; a collection surface for supporting the randomizedplaying cards; and an elevator for raising the collection surface to anelevation adjacent to the playing surface of the gaming table to enablea dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at onetime from the location proximate the playing surface of the gamingtable.
 2. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 1, wherein thegroup of playing cards is configured to be inserted into the playingcard receiver from above the playing surface of the gaming table.
 3. Theautomatic playing card shuffler of claim 1, wherein the randomizingsystem is further configured to sort the group of playing cards into aselected order.
 4. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 1,wherein the collection surface and the playing card receiver areconfigured to receive cards from or deliver cards to the playing surfaceof the gaming table from a location directly adjacent a portion of theplaying surface.
 5. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 1,wherein the housing is supported by a support plate at a locationdirectly adjacent the gaming table.
 6. The automatic playing cardshuffler of claim 1, wherein the housing is positioned within the gamingtable.
 7. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 1, wherein thehousing comprises an upper, substantially flat playing surface, theupper, substantially flat playing surface configured to be positionedsubstantially at an elevation with playing surface of the gaming table.8. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 7, wherein thecollection surface is configured to be positioned at an elevationallevel at least at the upper, substantially flat playing surface of thehousing.
 9. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 1, furthercomprising a movable cover over the collection surface, the movablecover allowing manual access to the collection surface when the movablecover is opened and preventing manual access to the collection surfacewhen the movable cover is closed.
 10. The automatic playing cardshuffler of claim 9, wherein the movable cover is configured to beelevated over the housing in an open position.
 11. The automatic playingcard shuffler of claim 9, wherein the movable cover is configured to beelevated by an extension coupled to the elevator.
 12. A playing cardshuffler comprising: a housing comprising a playing card support surfacein a playing card receiver for accepting a group of playing cards to beshuffled, the playing card support surface configured to be positionedat an elevational level substantially the same as a playing surface ofthe gaming device; a randomizing system for randomizing the order of thegroup of playing cards resulting in randomized playing cards; and acollection surface for supporting the randomized playing cards, playingcard shuffler configured to enable a dealer to manually remove all ofthe randomized playing cards at one time from a location proximate theplaying surface of the gaming device.
 13. The playing card shuffler ofclaim 12, further comprising an elevator for raising the collectionsurface to an elevation to enable the dealer to manually remove all ofthe randomized playing cards at one time from the location proximate theplaying surface of the gaming device.
 14. The playing card shuffler ofclaim 12, further comprising a movable cover configured to be elevatedover the housing in an open position to enable the dealer to unload therandomized playing cards from the housing.
 15. The playing card shufflerof claim 12, wherein the playing card support surface is configured toreceive the group of playing cards from the location proximate theplaying surface of the gaming device.
 16. The playing card shuffler ofclaim 12, wherein the playing card support surface is configured to bepositioned at an elevational level adjacent the playing surface of thegaming device.
 17. The playing card shuffler of claim 12, wherein thecollection surface is configured to be raised to an elevational level atleast at an upper surface of the housing.
 18. A method of shufflingplaying cards, the method comprising: accepting a group of playing cardsto be shuffled from a location proximate a playing surface of a gamingtable and through an upper portion of the housing; altering an order ofthe group of playing cards; and providing the altered group of playingcards back through the upper portion of the housing to the locationproximate the playing surface of the gaming table.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein altering the order of the group of playing cardscomprises at least one of randomizing the group of playing cards orsorting the group of playing cards.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising delivering the altered group of playing cards at least to anelevation of the playing surface of the gaming table.